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Alstef Group, a global leader in automated material handling and intralogistics solutions, is advancing the next stage of its innovation roadmap with the development of a new Autonomous Intralogistics Vehicle (AIV) – designed to meet increasing demands for flexibility, safety, and performance across warehousing and distribution environments.

As intralogistics operations become more dynamic and less predictable, automation solutions must be capable of understanding and reacting to their surroundings in real time. Alstef Group’s new AIV addresses this challenge through an advanced perception bubble – a continuously updated awareness zone that enables the vehicle to detect, interpret, and respond intelligently to people, equipment, and environmental changes within its operating area.

Within this perception bubble, the AIV goes beyond simple obstacle detection. By combining on-board cameras with artificial intelligence models, the vehicle is able to classify objects in its environment, distinguishing, for example, between pedestrians, manual carts, pallets, and fixed infrastructure. This semantic understanding allows the AIV to adapt its behaviour contextually, improving both safety and operational efficiency in shared spaces.

Designed for brownfield and live operational environments, the AIV integrates seamlessly into existing facilities without requiring extensive infrastructure changes. The perception bubble enables the vehicle to remain fully aware of its surroundings despite layout changes, temporary obstacles, or evolving workflows – making it particularly well suited to sites where operational continuity is critical.

The perception bubble also simplifies system configuration and day-to-day operation. Pedestrian crossings no longer need to be manually configured in the control system, as the AIV is able to recognise them automatically and adjust its speed accordingly, while emitting visual and audible signals to indicate its presence. Similarly, the vehicle adapts its docking trajectory based on the actual position of a pallet, removing the need for precise manual placement or ground markings.

Additional intelligence enables the AIV to determine whether a pallet is empty or loaded and to calculate the appropriate destination autonomously. Speed adjustment and obstacle avoidance are managed dynamically within the perception bubble, with information shared at system level to enable alternative routing where required, increasing overall equipment availability and reducing unnecessary downtime.

The perception bubble is available in two configurations: a light perception bubble, covering the front and rear of the vehicle, and a full perception bubble, providing 360-degree awareness. The light version will be the first to be commercialised, with a roadmap that allows functionality to be expanded over time through software updates rather than hardware modifications.

“True autonomy depends on continuous environmental awareness,” said Matthieu Crosnier, Intralogistics Sales Director at Alstef Group. Alstef Group. “The perception bubble at the heart of our new AIV enables safer, more intelligent interactions between autonomous vehicles and their surroundings, while simplifying system implementation and improving user comfort.”

Through continued investment in autonomous robotics, artificial intelligence, and software-driven innovation, Alstef Group continues to strengthen its intralogistics portfolio and support the long-term transformation of material handling operations worldwide.