Autonomous work machines

ORF reports on autonomous machines for timber loading and logistics 

“While robots with fixed tasks have long been part of everyday life, the Austrian Institute of Technology is developing machines that can find solutions independently. According to the teaser for the latest episode of Mayrs Magazin – Wissen für alle (30 May 2025), research is showing impressive progress towards autonomous robotics.
 

In the report, our team provides insights into our latest developments in the field of autonomous robotics, including:

• The autonomous timber loading crane, which independently loads and unloads a truck with tree trunks.
• The outdoor forklift truck, which can safely navigate unfamiliar terrain and load pallets.

Both machines demonstrate that they can work reliably and safely, even in challenging conditions.
 

Click here for the episode (in German):
https://on.orf.at/video/14277930/15889131/roboter-lernen-selbststaendig-mayrs-magazin-wissen-fuer-alle-vom-30052025

More about

• Autonomous work machines: https://www.ait.ac.at/en/solutions/autonomous-work-machines
• Large-Scale Robotics Lab: https://www.ait.ac.at/en/labs/large-scale-robotics-lab
• Live Demo Day 2025 (German): presse.ait.ac.at/news-ait-demo-day-2025-autonome-maschinen-fuer-bau-forst-und-logistik
   

Thanks to Andreas Kugi, Patrik Zips and Johannes Huemer for the exciting interviews, and to Florian Höllerl and Heinrich Lindmayr for the excellent production work.

Many thanks to: Christoph Fröhlich, Markus Murschitz, Christian Zinner, Mario Niedermayer, Setareh Zafari, Tobias Glück, Manfred Gruber, Sebastian Wimmer (PALFINGER), Wolfgang Pointner (AGILOX), Andreas Vrabl , Michael Schwingshackl, Marc-Philip Ecker, Sarah Nussbaumer, Christine Peer and many more.