POWERED BY THE INNOVATION HUB 

Future Careers Built Right in.

UFT Students Join the Innovation Hub.

AGF

Project

Automated Guided Forklift. 

Beyond technical expertise, an internship fosters professional development by enhancing teamwork, communication, and project management abilities. Interns collaborate with engineers, technicians, and industry professionals, gaining insights into industry best practices and workflow dynamics. This networking opportunity often leads to mentorship and potential employment prospects.
Moreover, the experience enables interns to understand industry-specific challenges, including system integration, cybersecurity, and sustainability in automation. This knowledge is crucial for addressing the evolving demands of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
Overall, an internship in automated industrial applications equips individuals with essential skills, industry exposure, and professional connections, providing a strong foundation for a successful career in automation and industrial engineering.

Yoonho Kim

 During my co-op term at SEW-EURODRIVE Company of Canada Ltd. as a Software Engineer Inter, I have had the opportunity to work on innovative automation solutions for AGVs, applying concepts I’ve learned during my studies at the University of Toronto to real-world industrial applications. One of my primary projects has been developing the pallet and load detection system for our in-house forklift AGV, improving its ability to accurately and safely handle loads in warehouse environments. Additionally, I have recently been involved in programming the high-level software that coordinates the actions of our AGV fleet at Humber College’s Barrett Centre for Technology.

This internship has been invaluable in bridging the gap between academia and industry, providing me with the perfect opportunity to apply concepts I have learned in school to a production-level setting. Unlike traditional academic project, which are often purely theoretical or constrained to controlled environments, my work at SEW-EURODRIVE has required me to consider real-world constraints such as system reliability, safety, performance optimization, and integration with existing infrastructure.

Being able to develop and deploy solutions that have a direct impact on industrial automation is a unique a rare opportunity – one that many students do not have the luxury of experiencing before graduating and entering the work force. This hand-on experience has not only deepened my technical knowledge, but it has also provided me insights into the collaborative nature of robotics, from working alongside mechanical engineers to integrating software solutions with hardware systems. My time at SEW EURODRIVE has solidified my interest in robotics and equipped me with the skills and confidence to pursue a career within the field.

Tyler Tian

During my co-op at SEW-Eurodrive, I gained hands-on experience developing real-world software applications at the Innovation Hub, with a focus on automated guided vehicles (AGVs). My role involved optimizing real-time localization algorithms, improving mapping accuracy and robustness, as well as ensuring the seamless integration of various industrial automation systems at the SEW-Eurodrive Innovation Lab at Humber Polytechnic.

The experience I gained working with real-world industrial automation systems was invaluable to my education. Through this experience, I developed a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts I learned in class such as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Particle Filtering. Collaborating on both research-driven Innovation Hub projects and industrial automation solutions exposed me to the practical constraints of deploying robotics software in real-world environments, beyond what could be taught in a classroom. I learned to write software that not only achieves the desired function, but is also robust, reliable, and easily maintainable. This experience has strengthened my technical problem-solving skills and reinforced my passion for autonomous systems and intelligent robotics, preparing me for a career at the intersection of software and automation.

That’s where the Automated Guided Forklift  (AGF) comes into play! SEW’s MAXOLUTION® Team of Engineers is in the prototype and early testing phases of its fully automated forklift, capable of lifting, shuttling, and dropping pallets anywhere in a factory or warehouse setting without human intervention. 

The most notable difference between an AGF and a traditional AGV is the AGF’s ability to lift and place pallets from one elevation to another, eliminating the need for additional load-handling applications.

The design intent is to systemize payload handling, improve overall safety, and allow businesses the flexibility to custom-create and quickly revise virtual payload motion plans with minimal interruptions or effort.

Read Article