Autolog: Automated Vehicle Transportation in Logistics

Logistics Integrating Autonomous Vehicles into Logistics

2026-10-29 From Thomas Günnel | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Volkswagen has tested automated driving of cars from the factory to logistics areas. At Audi, the focus was on loading cars onto railroad cars.

In the “AutoLog” project, cars drive autonomously on logistics sites.(Source: Volkswagen) — In the “AutoLog” project, cars drive autonomously on logistics sites.
(Source: Volkswagen)

How can vehicles be moved automatically within logistics areas and integrated into existing processes? Volkswagen, Deutsche Telekom, the Finnish technology company Unikie, and the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics at the University of Bremen (BIBA) (Germany) have been investigating this over the past two years as part of the “AutoLog” project at the Port of Emden.

The test site is located on a logistics site in the immediate vicinity of the Port of Emden. In addition to parking areas and roadways, it includes a heavily trafficked roundabout. The tests focused on the interaction between automated and manually operated vehicles during ongoing logistics operations and the integration of the technology into existing processes.

Autonomous Driving Software and the 5G Network

From a technological standpoint, Autolog combines several components into an integrated system for automated vehicle logistics. A system for autonomous vehicle movement developed by Unikie controls and coordinates the vehicles. A digital map of the parking areas assists in this process. The software runs on an edge-cloud system.

For communication between the system and the vehicles, the project uses Deutsche Telekom’s public 5G network, to which the provider has added additional features to meet the application’s requirements. Other key areas of focus included standardized communication and the safe interaction between people and technology. Autolog is based on the ISO 23374 standard for Automated Valet Parking.

Audi Is Testing Automated Loading onto Railroad Cars

Audi is working with Autolog to develop a system for automatically loading vehicles onto railroad cars. The focus here is on precisely positioning the vehicles during the transfer to rail transport. A pilot test was successful; the results complement the experience gained in Emden.

The completion of Autolog marks the end of the joint testing phase. The project partners intend to use the findings to evaluate further potential applications. The Federal Ministry of Transportation funded the project.

Self-Driving Cars at the BMW Plant

A few days ago, BMW reported that it was scaling up automated driving in production. According to the company, one million cars have already been driven autonomously at the automaker, for example from the assembly line to the finishing area.

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