Model test
The "Ritz" – otherwise known as the name of a US hotel chain – is the home of the DHBW's "Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Center" on Lake Constance, which is increasingly making its mark on transport logistics processes. This prompted the German Logistics Association to hold a cross-border conference in Friedrichshafen.
Among the universities and research institutions that have recently been vying for attention and giving logistics a higher priority than was previously the case for a sector often dominated by freight drivers and warehouse workers, the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) is currently attracting attention with its relatively new campus on Lake Constance.
The event's strong appeal in the border region of four countries was clearly demonstrated by its prominent lineup, featuring numerous industry experts from Switzerland – and largely based there. These included Wolfgang Stölzle, now Managing Director of Logistics Advisory Experts GmbH in Bazenheid; Ludwig Häberle, Project Manager at the University of St. Gallen; software specialists such as CSD consultant Georg Seitz; key figures from Schmitz Cargobull; and, most notably, a well-staffed team from the Center for Digitalization in Mobility Systems (ZDM) at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, led by research group head Markus Meßmer.
Photos: Koch
A good place to explore potential benefits and approaches to digitalization in the transport industry, organized by the spokesperson of the BVL regional group Masud Amani and with guests Heinz-Leo Dudek, Vice Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at DHBW Friedrichshafen, under the title "Science meets Practice".
Before an audience of around 50 participants, Benedikt Roßmann, Managing Director of the freight forwarding company Ansorge, had the opportunity to shed light on the environment and prospects of the medium-sized transport service provider with its approximately 500 employees, 150 trucks, and 400 trailers. "Logistics is already much more digital than some people think," said Roßmann. However, he added that others, after experiencing rapid digital advancements in navigation and transport management systems (TMS), such as "Instafreight," have already experienced setbacks. The online freight forwarder "Sennder," which is currently operating successfully and is aiming for €1.4 billion in revenue through its digital reduction of empty runs, is currently operating successfully. Both Rossmann and, shortly afterwards, Wolfgang Stölzle refer to the so-called "hype cycle" of the IT analysts at Gartner regarding "miracle things" and "AI", which leads from initial enthusiasm through a "low point of disappointment" and a valley of disillusionment through numerous intermediate phases, before finally landing at a level of productivity.
W. Stölzle, Th. Zysk
The range of possible applications is diverse. From compliance checks and support functions in the TMS to truck dispatching and the verification of freight invoices, significant time savings are possible. The Digital Delivery Note (Cloud4Log) developed by BVL and GS1 for the exchange of digital transport documents is a key component.
Ansorge himself had taken the initiative regarding the shift towards electric drives and had already had a semi-trailer pulled by a Terberg tractor in 2015. Battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) were now emerging as a long-term solution. However, funding had since dried up. "But we need stable framework conditions," said Roßmann, "in order to be able to invest.".
In the field of autonomous driving, logistics is a more exciting area of application than for private cars. The latter are driven for an average of no more than one hour per day – commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are driven all day.
Loadspace simulation
Wolfgang Stölzle, who also proudly holds a truck driver's license for vehicles up to 40 tons, offers tips for creating roadmaps for companies that decide to embark on the path of digitalization. He says it's less important whether a company is a "first mover" or a "late follower." The market for IT and software providers in this area is "incredibly fragmented." On the other hand, such a roadmap can be presented simply, perhaps in ten charts, to get started. In any case, with EBIT margins of around 1 to 3 percent in Germany and 7 to 8 percent in Switzerland, the available scope for future investments is limited. The crucial point is to set goals within the company that can always be adjusted or supplemented later.
Not a job for the quantum computer either.
Damir Dulovic presented interesting swarm models for orchestrating entire transport fleets. Centrally implemented route optimizations sometimes result in billions of possible route variations, which, considering all possible influencing factors, traffic conditions, and destinations, would be virtually impossible to manage even for quantum computers. However, a multi-agent system could eventually become feasible, in which each truck serves as its own point of contact via an app, accepting its own orders, negotiating terms, and ultimately generating invoices using IT support, similar to blockchain technology. Such a decentralized structure would also be less susceptible to external disruption attempts, such as by hackers, since each transport unit would operate independently.
A van as a «data generator»
A tour of the laboratory areas of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Center during the lunch break was extremely informative, where autonomous yard traffic can be demonstrated using models but real electronic equipment, the utilization of semi-trailers can be determined electronically using sensors and computers, and online-based systems can be followed "live" using a dedicated test vehicle, a van as a data generator.
Klaus Koch
Dual training
Nearly 34,000 students are currently enrolled in practice-integrated degree programs at the DHBW's nine campuses in Heidenheim, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Lörrach, Mannheim, Mosbach, Ravensburg, Stuttgart, and Villingen-Schwenningen. In cooperation with approximately 9,000 partner companies and social institutions (dual partners), the DHBW offers a broad range of Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in the fields of business, engineering, social work, and health. At the Friedrichshafen campus, which is part of the Ravensburg campus, around 1,400 young people have opted for the engineering track, which is divided into five sub-disciplines. Prospective students apply to a company of their choice – the dual partner. These include companies such as Airbus Defence, DLR, Diehl, Liebherr, RUAG, and Recaro. Three- to six-month theory phases at the university alternate with equally long practical phases at the dual partner company.
The facilities at the technology campus are impressive. And Friedrichshafen wouldn't be the location if exciting projects weren't being implemented for students in the vicinity of the corporation and the former workplace of airship pioneer Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin. In the aerospace engineering program, for example, these include the design and construction of a fully autonomous flying model airship, the use of a BO105 helicopter as a flight simulator, and the development of a nanosatellite called "SeeSat" based on the CubeSat standard.
