Alstef Group – which designs and integrates automation solutions for the airport, intralogistics and parcel markets – has introduced a new autonomous industrial vehicle equipped with AI-based perception capabilities, as the company expands its portfolio and prepares to showcase the system at LogiMAT.
The new autonomous intelligent vehicle (AIV) is designed for warehouse and distribution environments where operations are increasingly dynamic and shared between humans and machines.
The system centers on what the company describes as a “perception bubble” – a continuously updated awareness zone that enables the vehicle to interpret and respond to its surroundings in real time.
Using onboard cameras and AI models, the vehicle can classify objects in its environment, distinguishing between pedestrians, pallets, carts, and fixed infrastructure. This allows it to adjust behavior dynamically, including speed, routing, and docking actions.
Alstef says the system is intended for deployment in existing facilities without major infrastructure changes. The AIV can adapt to layout changes and temporary obstacles, while also recognizing features such as pedestrian crossings and adjusting its behavior automatically.
Additional functionality includes the ability to detect whether a pallet is loaded or empty and adjust handling accordingly. The vehicle can also modify its docking trajectory based on pallet position, reducing the need for precise placement or fixed guidance systems.
The perception system is available in two configurations – a front-and-rear “light” version and a full 360-degree version – with the initial commercial rollout focused on the lighter configuration. The company says future capabilities will be introduced through software updates.
“True autonomy depends on continuous environmental awareness,” said Matthieu Crosnier, Intralogistics Sales Director at Alstef Group.
“The perception bubble at the heart of our new AIV enables safer, more intelligent interactions between autonomous vehicles and their surroundings, while simplifying system implementation and improving user comfort.”
While Alstef has not specified a publication date for the announcement, the timing and messaging suggest the system is being positioned for public debut at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart.
