Danish robotics specialist Capra Robotics is using Deutsche Telekom’s IoT services and precise positioning for its autonomous mobile robots.

Deutsche Telekom is providing global connectivity via mobile networks and satellite. And its partner Swift Navigation provides precise positioning technology for accurate execution of autonomous tasks.

Two important difficulties in the use of autonomous systems always take centre stage: seamless cellular coverage and precise positioning. Capra Robotics is using Deutsche Telekom’s IoT mobile and satellite network and US firm Swift Navigation’s positioning technology. This ensures the autonomous robots can be controlled in real time and with minimal deviation from the intended position.

With various add-ons such as a vacuum nozzle, spray nozzle or even a cloud-connected stereo camera, the robotics from Capra automate processes in a wide range of applications. In city cleaning, they can collect cigarette butts, remove chewing gum from the asphalt or spread anti-icing agents in winter. In city centres, they can autonomously deliver parcels and reduce CO₂ emissions from trucks. In steep vineyards, the robots inspect crop health so pesticides can be applied precisely and sparingly. In doing so, they support climate protection.

“The autonomous mobile robots take over repetitive tasks independently,” said Dennis Nikles, CEO of Deutsche Telekom IoT. “This relieves the burden on qualified employees. Deutsche Telekom provides the essential elements for this – global connectivity and precise positioning – with unique service quality via our own infrastructure and selected partnerships.”

Capra robots are agile. The devices can carry top deck loads of up to 50kg or carts with loads of up to 500kg. They also have an integrated tracking system to trace the robot’s location in real time and monitor the status of the transported goods. An AI-supported navigation system with camera technology allows the machines to manoeuvre around obstacles, navigate in confined spaces and avoid collisions.

“Companies invest heavily in optimising their intralogistics to ensure the smooth flow of materials within production facilities,” said Lars Hee Hansen, chief commercial officer of Capra Robotics (capra.ooo). “However, a bottleneck arises when moving material between production units. The transition from indoor to outdoor presents a unique set of challenges for traditional robots, resulting in labour-intensive and time-consuming manual handling. Thanks to the combination of reliable connectivity, precise positioning and camera-based navigation, Capra robots offer companies the ability to bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor logistics.”

Deutsche Telekom offers a convergent, reliable network with mobile communications and satellite. With a growing network of cooperating specialists such as Intelsat and Skylo, the company seamlessly supplements traditional terrestrial IoT connections such as NB-IoT, LTE-M, 4G and 5G with satellite connectivity. This makes it a global IoT connector for a seamless IoT network, even in areas with poor mobile coverage, large expanses of water or in the air. Roaming agreements with over 600 partners around the world ensure borderless connectivity worldwide.

With Swift Navigation (www.swiftnav.com), Deutsche Telekom (www.telekom.com) also has a cloud offering for position calculation with an accuracy of up to 4cm. Skylark positioning from Swift corrects the precision of conventional satellite navigation systems. This is often only three to five metres. To do this, the data from 40 to 50 satellites are used in a recalculation via reference stations distributed across the Deutsche Telekom network.