Another eye-catching automotive application was in German startup company Cikoni’s “Vision Van” for Mercedes-Benz. According to Innovation in Textiles, the van is powered by a 75 kW electric drive system with a range of up to 270 km, which makes deliveries emission-free.
The van’s cargo space management system is designed to automatically transfer packages for delivery through a package dispenser on board the vehicle. One of the central features of the system is its lightweight composite shelving system.
“One-shot-loading saves operator time and costs during loading: the fully equipped shelves are pushed into the Vision Van in one go. At the destination, the parcels are picked fully automated to reduce duration of delivery and significantly increase the output of each vehicle,” the company says. “An intelligent material mix of carbon [fiber], aluminum and sandwich materials guarantees high stability during brake application at minimum operating weight.”
Next year’s CES will take place in Las Vegas, January 9-12, 2018. For more information, visit http://www.ces.tech/.
