AIT: Robotics for Work Machines

Whether in manufacturing, on construction sites, in forests, or in logistics, many tasks are heavy, repetitive, or hazardous. At the same time, demands for safety, efficiency, and sustainability are rising—while skilled labor is becoming increasingly scarce in many sectors.
Autonomous work machines can provide targeted relief: they support operators, improve the precision of recurring tasks, reduce downtime, and enable safer operation—even under challenging outdoor conditions.
But how do excavators, cranes, and forklifts become true field robots—robust, efficient, and above all safe? Autonomy does not emerge from isolated “smart” components. It becomes practical only when it is designed holistically from the start. This requires an integrated robotics architecture covering the full autonomy chain: from perception using suitable sensors, to motion planning (navigation and path planning) and motion control, all the way to verifiable safety and decision logic. Only if this chain works reliably under changing environmental conditions does real-world automation become feasible.

Cutting-Edge Research Presented at ICRA 2026 in Vienna

This is exactly where AIT’s robotics research contributes—in collaboration with TU Wien and Tufts University. Together, the partners bundle their work into six scientific papers to be presented at ICRA 2026 (June 1–5) in Vienna. The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) is one of the world’s most important conferences in robotics and automation, bringing together international research, industry, and innovation.

Six Core Capabilities for Autonomous Work Machines

The six contributions address key challenges of autonomy—from reliable “seeing” to the safe execution of complex tasks. Specifically, they cover:

• Robust 3D perception of objects
• Precise placement of heavy components using a crane
• Field safety in autonomous timber loading with a crane
• How robotic systems can learn flexibly while remaining safe
• How repetition can make motions more robust and efficient
• Reliable autonomy for long task sequences

Solutions for Construction, Logistics, Forestry, and Agriculture

With its ICRA contributions, AIT reinforces its role in the automation of work machines—with a clear focus on practical, field-ready solutions for construction, logistics, forestry, and agriculture. The core is technology that proves itself in real environments: robust against disturbances, safe in operation, and efficient in execution. These research results feed directly into the further development of autonomous machines at the AIT Large-Scale Robotics Lab, with the goal of making autonomy continuously safer and more capable.

Outlook: AIT at the Festival of Robots in Vienna

In addition to ICRA, AIT will make its robotics research accessible to a broader audience for the first time at the Festival of Robots (May 30–31) at Karlsplatz in Vienna. There, AIT will showcase autonomous work machines live and provide insights into further developments and application areas.

Further Information:

More on the scientific publications

ICRA 

AIT Large-Scale Robotics Lab

Roboter in Wien