Developing solutions together

Many logistics companies are still developing or purchasing individual software solutions for standard logistics functions, known as commodities. Due to the lack of compatibility, however, such isolated solutions actually make communication between the players more difficult - with fatal consequences for the supply chains. Yet logistics commodities in particular are predestined for collaborative software development: companies save valuable resources - costs, time and personnel - and at the same time create the basis for seamlessly networked logistics processes. With the Silicon Economy initiative and the large-scale research project (Verlinkung www.silicion-economy.com) of the same name the importance of open source as a development principle in logistics has increased considerably. The components developed in the project in an application-oriented environment are available to any company free of charge. The components also provide them with starting points for (further) collaborative development, for example in the Open Logistics Foundation established during the project period and in the new Open Labs at Fraunhofer IML.

OVERVIEW OF COMPONENTS

Open source software, like proprietary software, usually has to be adapted, embedded or supplemented by companies before it can be used. Depending on the size and specialization of their IT departments, companies need support, e.g. in adapting the software to specific use cases and integrating it into their IT landscape. At the same time, the aim is for companies to develop business models based on the solutions that are available to them free of charge, with which they can better position themselves for the future and generate more revenue. 

Fraunhofer IML supports companies in using open source as a tool strategically and efficiently - from the first steps to integration, to the use and active development of components. The offer ranges from workshops in which companies can evaluate the benefits of using open source components or developing open source hardware and software for themselves, to projects in which researchers from the institute's specialist departments take over the integration of components into business processes or the adaptation of services for companies. 

The Fraunhofer IML also advises companies on OSS innovation processes. Companies can put together a company-specific “innovation kit” from a variety of offers. The researchers accompany the process, conduct their own workshops and also involve external partners if required. 

Our offers

To set up an Open Lab, companies specify a use case. Fraunhofer IML supports them in defining the objectives and functionalities of the system and creating use cases, as well as in architecture planning and technology selection. In particular, the institute provides the necessary capacities to program and implement the software. As a result, companies can save valuable resources – costs, time and personnel. New digital products and services can be established on the market more quickly.

More about Open Labs

The open source developments from both publicly funded and industry-financed Fraunhofer IML formats are finding their way into logistics: More and more companies are integrating components developed at the institute into their IT landscapes with the support of researchers and optimizing their processes.

As part of the DB Schenker Enterprise Labs, DB Schenker and Fraunhofer IML have initiated and published the open source framework MLCVZoo (Machine Learning Computer Vision Zoo). The framework is part of the ML Toolbox and provides an ecosystem of computer vision algorithms that can be combined in a pipeline - regardless of the specific implementations of the algorithms. With the MLCVZoo as a basis, current state-of-the-art object detection and OCR algorithms can be used without being tied to a specific implementation.  This is ensured by the MLCVZoo data and model API.

To the component

The consignment note for international road freight transport (CMR), which is generally still paper-based today, requires a great deal of administrative effort with numerous manual activities. With this in mind, the researchers of Silicon Economy have designed a service for the generation, storage and transmission of digital consignment notes (eCMR).  Together with members of the Open Logistics Foundation, the service has been developed into a European standard. In addition to the service, other components include a standardized data model and an implementation of electronic seals for legally secure signatures in accordance with the EU eIDAS Regulation. All components are available to companies as open source in the foundation's repository.

DIRECTLY TO ECMR

openTCS is a manufacturer-neutral and flexible control system software for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and practically all automated vehicles. It was developed as part of a publicly funded project. Since then, the code base has been maintained and development continued by Fraunhofer IML. The researchers support companies in integrating the software and developing new specific features.

ABOUT THE PROJECT