AI Assistance System for Safe Logistics at Crane Terminals

Working at intermodal crane terminals – especially the loading of semi-trailers and containers onto rail wagons – requires maximum precision, operational safety, and efficiency. This is precisely where the cooperative research project "Road2Rail" comes in: Together, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Vorarlberg-based industrial company Künz GmbH (Künz) have developed an AI-powered assistance system that supports crane operators during handling. The solution addresses the growing demands of modern logistics – particularly with regard to safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

After successfully completing the first project phase, a functional solution is now available, specifically designed for the complex conditions of intermodal transshipment. In the second phase, AIT and Künz are working on bringing the system to market readiness, marking an important step toward digitalized and sustainable terminal processes.

Road2Rail: AI-powered assistance system for transshipment of semi-trailers from road to rail

“Road2Rail impressively demonstrates what strong collaboration can achieve. At AIT, we were able to expand our long-standing expertise in AI-assisted systems and, thanks to Künz, gain valuable insights into loading processes and operational requirements. This well-coordinated team effort enabled the development of a powerful and sustainable logistics solution in a relatively short time,” says Monika Riedl-Riedenstein, AIT project lead.
“Künz is internationally recognized as a leading company in crane systems for intermodal freight transport and automatic stacking cranes. With our current project, we are deliberately focusing on artificial intelligence and sustainability. As a pioneer in resource-efficient container logistics, we promote the shift of semi-trailers to rail. The close cooperation with AIT has given us decisive momentum and valuable input for forward-looking solutions,” says Dr. Hannes Eberharter, Head of R&D at Künz.

The two partners combine their respective strengths and visions in this project: While Künz contributes deep expertise in crane automation and operational domain knowledge, AIT – represented by the Assistive & Autonomous Systems research group at the AIT Center for Vision, Automation & Control – provides comprehensive scientific expertise in environment perception, sensor fusion, and intelligent image processing. AIT has been conducting research for years on AI-based systems for complex, dynamic environments, enabling reliable detection and analysis of logistics scenarios in real time.

Advantages of the assistance system

• Targeted support for crane operators during loading processes
• Automated situational analysis for increased safety
• Consistent process quality alongside improved efficiency
• Eco-friendly operations through optimized workflows and fewer errors
• Enabling more semi-trailers to shift from road to rail

High-precision image processing and sensor technology for reliable environment perception – even under challenging conditions
At the core of the solution is intelligent environment perception. By fusing multiple sensor sources with high-precision image processing, the system enables robust and reliable surroundings detection – even in real, dynamic, and complex operating environments.

With the help of artificial intelligence, specific objects such as semi-trailers or characteristic features are automatically recognized, classified, and their exact position and orientation determined. These AI-based insights are processed in real time and seamlessly integrated into the crane interface, which controls crane operations and path planning.

The system was specifically developed to operate reliably even under difficult lighting and weather conditions. It thus makes an important contribution to improving operational safety and can be optimally integrated into existing terminal infrastructures – a key step toward digitalized and sustainable logistics processes.

From prototype to market readiness
Following the successful research and development phase, AIT and Künz are now jointly working on the industrial implementation and commercialization of the solution. This effort contributes significantly to the digital transformation and ecological optimization of logistics processes, while strengthening Austria’s role in the international logistics sector.

More about
The project: "Road2Rail" was funded under the “Mobility of the Future” program by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI). 
Künz GmbH   
AIT Research Group Assistive & Autonomous Systems