FRIO-IME Project
Intelligent last-mile and urban cold delivery platform with embedded sensor technology manufactured by In Mold Electronics
The project includes several solutions that will improve the whole process of product delivery in an urban environment under isothermal conditions, such as a communications platform, sensor technology, an obstacle detection system and advanced autonomous navigation algorithms.
Dates
End date: 31/07/2025.
Regarding the current state of the art in this field, there are several solutions available for the transport of temperature-sensitive products in urban environments.
Eutectic plate isothermal boxes offer a good level of thermal control, but the integration of technologies such as GPS, NFC, RFID, barcode reader and blockchain is still in its early days in the market. Although each of these technologies is used individually in different applications, the combination of all of them in a comprehensive project for the delivery of isothermal products is an innovative and little explored proposal until now.
The commitment to a project of these characteristics implies an important leap in the solution for the other sectors involved in these areas, the HORECA channel being the most relevant. This project focuses on the last mile delivery of food products, but its results are directly transferable to other products such as pharmaceuticals.
Objectives
The project will develop several solutions that will improve the whole process of product delivery in an urban environment under isothermal conditions. This project will develop a communications platform that will provide delivery information, economic transaction and delivery quality records on the three channels: distributor, customer and vehicle/box by using technologies such as NFC, RFID or Bar Code Readers and blockchain, as well as GPS.
For complementary purposes, presence sensors for ADAS assistance and in-vehicle temperature sensors will be developed. Embedded sensors will be created by a combination of printed electronics and plastronics, leading to fully functional plastic parts. An eco-design concept will be followed to facilitate subsequent recycling, and recyclable or recycled plastics will be used to improve the vehicle’s carbon footprint.
In addition, an autonomous vehicle equipped with a refrigerated locker will be used for the implementation and improvement of autonomous navigation. For navigation, the vehicle will integrate an obstacle detection system and advanced algorithms for autonomous navigation will be implemented. These algorithms will ensure a safe and efficient operation of the vehicle during the delivery process. The design will be developed and validated within the project to be applied in use cases with controlled scenarios.
In summary, the development of this project will allow the participating companies to research and develop solutions that will improve the efficiency of autonomous product delivery in urban environments, temperature control, as well as the development of communication solutions that improve the user experience.
NAITEC's contribution
- Analysis of solutions for the sensors to be manufactured.
- Definition of specifications for printed sensors and autonomous navigation.
- Analysis of the patentability of the solutions.
- Design and manufacture of the temperature and presence sensor.
- Development of electronic sensor control.
- Development of the autonomous navigation application.
- Development of vehicle communications with the logistics platform.
- Validation of the sensors printed in 2D.
- Functional validation of the final plastic part.
- Experimental validation of the navigation system.
In addition, together with the rest of the partners, it will also address:
- Development of the integration strategy.
- Integration of the solutions in the cold platform.
- Final validation of the complete solution.
- Results dissemination day.
Partners
Funding
