The FlowPro project delivered a comprehensive, modular logistics platform that unites autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) and delivery drones within a single, AI‑driven network. Central to the technical achievements was the development of a handover mechanism that allows a drone to transfer cargo to an AGV and vice versa. This mechanism was integrated into an intelligent transport box for the Emqopter delivery drone and was showcased at a hospital in December 2023, where the drone performed a live demonstration of autonomous gate crossing and indoor landing inside a workshop. The system’s positioning capability was enhanced by a 2‑degree‑of‑freedom LiDAR module and ultra‑wideband (UWB) ranging units. Two UWB initiator‑responder modules were mounted on the gate posts while a responder was placed on the drone, enabling two‑way ranging (TWR) and precise relative positioning during gate traversal. Sensor fusion of LiDAR and UWB data further improved robustness, and a state‑machine controller was tuned through extensive test runs near Würzburg. The communication layer was built on a platform‑independent Transport Network Core (TNC) using protocol buffers, allowing seamless data exchange between all components. LTE connectivity was added as a modular extension to the Qmed development platform and the delivery drone, enabling real‑time swarm control of multiple drones. Within four months of project completion, three Qmed systems equipped with the prototype swarm‑control extension were sold and delivered, and a further three orders were received in December, surpassing the commercialization targets set in the exploitation plan.
Beyond the hardware and software stack, FlowPro introduced an AI‑based bidding system that evaluates every transport request against a wide range of parameters: traffic conditions, weather, vehicle capabilities, product characteristics, and corporate strategies. This system can dynamically select the most suitable transport unit—whether an AGV, a drone, or a third‑party vehicle—optimizing for cost, emissions, delivery time, and fleet utilization. The architecture was documented in the FlowPro D3.1 deliverable, which presents logical, deployment, and dynamic views of the system. A white paper on the EU drone regulation, published by Emqopter, outlines the regulatory and business implications for operators adopting FlowPro.
The consortium, led by Emqopter GmbH, comprised six partners: Technische Hochschule Würzburg‑Scheinfurt, Flexus AG, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes, ABB Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Siemens AG, and HTW Saar. Emqopter handled consortium coordination, public communication, and the integration of its own delivery drone into the FlowPro network. Regular weekly meetings ensured alignment across the six work packages, which covered project management, requirements analysis, system architecture, situation detection, communication, and commercialization. The project was funded under the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with grant numbers 19F2128A–G. Despite challenges posed by the COVID‑19 pandemic—such as limited in‑person meetings and postponed travel—the project achieved its milestones, culminating in a public launch event with live demonstrations attended by industry, academia, press, and government officials, including the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Further scientific publications are planned for 2024, and the project’s progress and results remain accessible on the website www.flow‑pro.de.