Unikie demonstrates automated vehicle rail loading at Audi plant

Unikie has demonstrated a world-first technology for the automated loading and unloading of vehicles onto railway wagons at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt, Germany. The trial, part of the AutoLog project, showcases the ability of autonomous software to navigate vehicles through the tight, congested spaces required for rail marshalling.

This development follows previous automated vehicle movement tests conducted at Volkswagen Group Logistics’ terminal in Emden. The automation aims to increase efficiency at the intersection of production and long-distance logistics, reducing the need for manual labor during repetitive maneuvers. Approximately 70% of finished Volkswagen Group vehicles are transported via rail during distribution.

The technical implementation relied on a digital infrastructure provided by Deutsche Telekom, utilizing a 5G mobile network and edge-cloud infrastructure to enable real-time data processing. While the demonstration brings the process closer to series production, no specific timeline for widespread deployment has been announced.