World premiere at Hannover Messe: ZF’s highly automated forklift can see, think and act

ZF links intelligent mechanical systems with digital solutions. This USP enables ZF to offer attractive industrial technology products. ZF proves this at Hannover Messe by introducing its ZF Innovation Forklift – a highly automated, electrified and fully networked forklift truck. This is the first time the company has transferred the technology that supports its motto “see. think. act.” to a materials handling application.

This world innovation in the industrial technology sector has embraced current megatrends in the industry, thus ensuring greater efficiency and safety while simultaneously lowering operating costs.

ZF’s Industrial Technology Division has benefited from the Group’s broad expertise in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. This is shown by a world premiere at this year’s Hannover Messe. With the ZF Innovation Forklift the Group presents the first ever materials handling vehicle that can see, think and act. It is a fully networked electric forklift truck with highly automated driving functions equipped with camera and radar systems that enable it to see its surrounding environment. The data that these systems generate are analyzed by the ZF ProAI central computer, which is based on an artificial intelligence software that has already been proven in other innovative prototype vehicles modeled on passenger cars and tractors. Intelligent actuating elements – such as the ZF electric rear axle steering for forklift trucks – and the electric ZF single-wheel drive carry out the control unit’s given commands.

Source:https://www.zf.com/