The logistics industry is Germany’s third largest economic sector after the auto industry and the trade. Approximately 60,000 companies are active in the logistics sector and generated 2014 sales of around 235 billion euros. The logistics of parcel services every year, not least through the Internet trade is growing sharply. The downside of this growth is an increase in CO2 emissions and costs. It needs modern IT solutions that could bring up to 15 percent efficiency gain in the future, according to calculations by the Alliance for European Logistics. This would for Germany, in addition to high CO2 reduction mean savings of at least EUR 23 billion.
LoFIP researching more efficient logistics
The project researched LoFIP three years successfully to a specific IT solution for the optimization of logistics processes. Core of the solution are logistics consoles, link the Future Internet and cloud technologies. The scientists developed together with renowned partners from the software industry and the logistics sector a software platform for logistics consoles. “These control centers can monitor operational processes in real time and control,” said Professor Dr. Klaus Pohl, paluno director and holder of the Chair Software Systems Engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
dispatchers could therefore react to deviations in the transport chain and immediately intervene and control in running processes. In difficult situations, the control centers directly offer alternatives. Allowing a control station, for example in case of failure of the cooling in a container to rapidly deploy a replacement container. Another example is the support for an unplanned high amount of packages by a quick adjustment of transport capacities.
Internet of Things and Services
The LoFIP consoles can be differentiated from existing consoles in terms of their software architecture and implementation. They are by the operation in the cloud from anywhere, even mobile, usable. Some functions of a control center can outsource to mobile applications beyond.
Photo: paluno
In addition, the LoFIP consoles combine key areas of Future Internet: the Internet of Services (Internet of Services) and the Internet of Things (Internet of Things) , The Internet of Services includes software provided via the Internet-based services, such as cloud storage and computing capacity, and software applications (software-as-a-Service). The European Technology Platform NESSI assumes that software and cloud services are one of the main drivers of innovation, and offer significant opportunities for many application domains.
For the Internet of Things, among other mobile devices, handhelds and Internet-connected sensors are counted. These devices are able to measure physical properties and processes, such as the number of packets or traffic data, and monitor. Gartner estimates 2020 world 26 billion networked devices that are not PCs, tablets or smartphones.
future scenarios as a project driver
LoFIP considered innovative future scenarios for two industrially relevant applications. “These future scenarios outline possible situations in the next three to five years. In the context of shared creativity workshops we have developed visions to the research and industrial partners.” describes Philipp Schmidt, Chair staff in LoFIP project that procedure.
The scenario “Multimodal Container Transport in the hinterland” consider the transport chain from the recording of an empty container on the load, to the deployment of a European sea port for overseas shipment. Even small delays have this effect on the entire transport chain and represented a major challenge in logistics. In this project chain is monitored and controlled in the control room. For example, could be provided if required a replacement container.
Photo: paluno
The scenario ” forward parcel services “ looks at the process of package services: The vehicles of the parcel delivery service drive business customers and collect packets. Although it is already taken into account that the amount of packets changes daily, the capacity of the vehicles, by the strong dynamic variations in the pick-up amount on the planned routes are not sufficient (overload) or are underutilized (sub-capacity). In LoFIP control center the package quantity is automatically detected and reported to the dispatcher. This can dynamically adjust the vehicles and routes used.
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