Meet "Laura" the delivery robot - ITS anchor project

"Laura transports post for various authorities," said Dr Johannes Hinckeldeyn, Technical Manager of the project "Lauenburg's Automated Robot Delivery". The combined transport of people and goods in automated shuttles is being tested in Lauenburg as part of TaBuLa-LOG (Test Centre for Autonomous Buses in the Duchy of Lauenburg County) and was developed by the Institute for Technical Logistics at the Technical University of Hamburg. The combination of an autonomous shuttle and a bus-driving robot is unique so far, Hinckeldeyn stressed and is one of 42 anchor projects to be presented during the ITS World Congress underway from October 11-15, 2021 in Hamburg. 

Apart from the technical feasibility, researchers are focusing on public acceptance of the project, which runs through late 2022. "How do people react when a robot comes aboard making for a close encounter? Laura has several sensors to gauge such contact. For basic navigation, a laser scanner on the top of the robot is linked with a map," Hinckeldeyn pointed out. "Additionally, 3D close range stereo cameras identify street lanterns or parked cars and two stereo cameras scan the safety area so Laura can stop immediately, if need be." Fine positioning allows the robot to board the bus from a ramp. "Ultrasonic sensors navigate centimetre by centimetre and ensure that Laura doesn't accidentally run over a dog's tail," he grinned.  

Given the boom in online sales and deliveries, Laura could ultimately reduce the volume of traffic. Public transport could extend the robot's parcel delivery range. "The TaBuLa shuttle acts as a mother ship, drives the delivery robots close to their actual destination, lets them off at bus stops to drive the last mile. The robot delivers the goods and gets back on the bus again," Hinckeldeyn noted. The shuttle thus extends the robot's delivery range. 

The choice of Lauenburg was by no means coincidental. "The TaBuLa-Shuttle project, which started in 2018, tests autonomous driving in small towns," said Hinckeldeyn. The medieval old town with wide pavements, narrow alleys, winding streets and long, steep hills and a busy main road dotted with traffic lights poses several interesting challenges for researchers. Tests of the delivery robot's driving behaviour on Lauenburg's cobblestones are underway, but an attendant still has to steer Laura manually. "At the same time, we are rolling out the various functions of autonomous driving and are working on legal approval." Everything should be ready in time for the ITS World Congress, which should be another challenge for Laura. "Let's see how Laura navigates a sea of legs," he remarked.

The TaBuLa, TaBuLa-LOG and Laura projects are among ITS research projects underway in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. They have received EUR 3.7 million in funds from the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of the "Automated and Connected Driving" and "Sustainable Mobility System for the Future through Automated Driving and Networking".
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