MIT & Mecalux partner on AI project to transform logistics
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics and Mecalux have commenced a five-year project to enhance logistics through the use of self-learning artificial intelligence.
The initiative, based at MIT's Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, will explore the possibilities of AI models that could significantly impact both businesses and society.
Dr. Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research at MIT CTL and the Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, stated, "The objective of our collaboration with Mecalux is to foster disruptive innovation and achieve two highly impactful use cases where AI transforms industry decision-making. We will train complex self-learning machine learning models to ultimately reduce costs, lower carbon footprints, and improve service quality for customers."
In its initial year, the project will develop two main research areas intended to drive innovation. The first research area will concentrate on enhancing the efficiency of autonomous warehouse robots through simulation, optimisation, and machine learning. This will involve creating a "swarm intelligence" system in which multiple robots operate cohesively as a single unit to make shared decisions.
Winkenbach explained, "We aim to create a new generation of autonomous robots that learn from human behaviour to foster greater collaboration and efficiency in warehouses."
The second area of research will focus on forming self-learning AI models designed to understand demand patterns and predict new consumer purchasing behaviours.
According to Winkenbach, "Current distribution systems fail to account for the full complexity of logistics networks and often make strong simplifying assumptions. This project seeks to help companies operating large networks of warehouses, distribution centres and stores automatically determine the most efficient way to fulfil each order taking into account the real-time status of the distribution network."
This collaborative effort is expected to aid logistics professionals, warehouse personnel, and carriers execute their roles with enhanced precision.
Javier Carrillo, CEO of Mecalux, remarked, "Having contributed to founding MIT's Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, Mecalux has leveraged its practical expertise in warehousing and its software and automation experts to support MIT's research. The goal is to transform companies' logistics operations to achieve greater efficiency."
