Workshop – Unlocking End-to-End Automation: Seemless Logistics with AI, Humanoid Robots & Level 4 Autonomous Vehicles

Together with Planzer as Challenge Partner, we invite you to a hands-on workshop bringing together startups, SMEs, corporates, researchers, students, cities and public authorities to explore how AI-driven orchestration, humanoid robotics and Level 4 autonomous vehicles can enable scalable, resilient and real-world end-to-end logistics automation beyond autonomous driving.

A Call for Disruptive Logistics Solutions

1) Solving the Sender-to-Hub Puzzle
We are looking for scalable solutions to tackle the critical inefficiencies of the sender-to-hub process. This includes possible solutions regarding load planning and improper cargo distribution, ideas around dock congestion and packaging errors, and how to optimize the manual handling tasks towards automatic and autonomous workflows. Software solutions for seamless integration and comprehensive solutions also play a role here, from automated data capture to AI-driven time slot management.

2) Robotic Load-Flow: Automating the Railway Hub
We are seeking innovation in industrial robotics and conveyor technology to revolutionize the interface between rail freight and automated sorting. The challenge is to develop solutions for the automated loading and unloading of railway wagons, managing highly heterogeneous cargo within extremely tight time windows. We prioritize systems that can autonomously bridge the gap from wagon to sorting belt, handling varying load carriers with precision and speed.

3) The Touchless Mile: Automated Parcel Exchange
The last mile remains the most expensive and complex logistics segment, primarily due to the inefficiency of manual drop-offs in dense urban environments. How to solve physical automation with the focus on creating delivery robots and autonomous vehicles that can safely navigate unpredictable sidewalks and “curb-to-door” obstacles? And how to standardize automated recipient interfaces, such as smart lockers or secure robotic hand-off points, to eliminate failed delivery attempts and high labor costs? We are looking for innovation around integrating these hardware solutions with smart city infrastructure to ensure seamless, contactless goods transfer.

What’s happening at the workshop?
We will explore concrete barriers and opportunities across the logistics value chain, from loading and unloading to last-meter delivery, customer interaction and deployment in complex urban environments. Expert inputs and collaborative breakout sessions will focus on practical approaches, system integration and pilot-ready directions.

Why join?
Work on a real industry-driven challenge together with Planzer
Exchange with experts from logistics, AI, robotics and mobility
Develop approaches that can be submitted to the challenge after the workshop
Selected teams receive up to CHF 25’000 in project funding and expert support for pilot projects

The workshop is led by Switzerland Innovation Park Central, the Innovation Booster New Mobility, the Innovation Booster Artificial Intelligence and the Swiss Robotics Association in collaboration with ETH Zürich, EPFL, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the University of St.Gallen.

Have any questions? Reach out to Deniz Püseli deniz.pueseli@unisg.ch – he’ll be happy to help you.

We are looking forward to your participation!