LogiSmile - 2nd year

The LogiSmile project aims to develop an urban logistics system for the distribution and delivery of parcels. Today’s logistics operations in city centres lead to very negative effects: increase in traffic congestion; safety problems for pedestrians, bikers and deliverers; air and noise pollution. To address these challenges, the LogiSmile project has implemented pilot programs in selected cities in Spain, Germany and Hungary to validate an autonomous delivery system using cutting edge technology. The primary objectives have been to reduce delivery costs, parking problems, emissions and congestions.

The second year of the LogiSmile project has focused on validating the integrated last mile delivery solution in a new urban environment in the city of Braunschweig through a pilot test, taken place in March 2024. The solution included three central components that use various hardware and software components, including multiple redundant radar, lidar and camera systems: the electric street robot called ONA (the ADD – Autonomous Delivery Device), that can move autonomously in pedestrian zones and on the street, and takes over the tasks of delivering packages on the last mile; RAION, an automated logistics vehicle functioning as a mobile logistics centre (the AHV – Autonomous Hub Vehicle); and control center (LC) that monitors the driving status of both vehicles, ensuring their communication, and intervening in the driving functions if necessary.

The Logismile consortium comprises 15 European organizations and institutions, reuniting insights from universities, research centers, city administrations, and industrial expertise.

Project results

An autonomous logistics concept was validated at the surroundings of the Braunschweig research airport. The process involved the Mission manager fully integrated with the Logistics Operator’s TMS sending pick-up, delivery, and meeting point locations to the robot fleet.

This system can optimise the routes to be followed to distribute goods, reduce the number of km travelled, generating significant economies of scale as well as emissions reduction. From a social perspective, it has the potential to improve the work of delivery drivers, promoting skilled jobs and a more efficient management of resources. Moreover, the solution proposed actively contributes to the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda.