The research paper “Sorting multi-bay block stacking storage systems” was published in Computers & Operations Research. The study presents a three-stage optimization approach for the efficient reorganization of block storage systems using autonomous robots and demonstrates its high scalability in extensive experiments.
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November 2025 saw the launch of two key digitization projects involving the IMI.
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The IMI presented a new research paper at AGENTICS in Marbella, exploring the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for the automated development of heuristics.
Using the approaches CEoH and LitCEoH, the study demonstrates how even smaller, energy-efficient models can generate powerful solutions for specialized optimization problems.
EcoVity, the digital platform for modular vehicle components was successfully tested in the IntWertL research project.
The approach works.
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At the LION19 conference in Prague, IMI presented a research paper on optimizing loading decisions of autonomous mobile robots using reinforcement learning. The study shows that RL-based strategies can significantly outperform conventional methods.
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At the VeRoLog conference in Trento, a research team from the IMI presented recent results from the EU- and BMWK-funded project FlexTools on the optimization of buffer zones operated by multiple Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs).
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On Thursday, May 15, KIT Business was a guest at IMI. With exciting presentations and an interesting program, the IMI provided insights into its research work.
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Last Saturday, May 17, KIT opened its doors to interested visitors. IMI was there and provided exciting insights into research into machine intelligence and data science in mechanical engineering.
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Invited by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), the IMI project team presented the latest status of the EcoVity digital value creation platform at Hannover Messe 2025.
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We are pleased to announce that our research paper “Advancing Sustainable Additive Manufacturing: Analyzing Parameter Influences and Machine Learning Approaches for CO2 Prediction”, authored by Svenja Hauck, Lucas Greif, Nils Benner and Jivka Ovtcharova, has been published in the Journal Sustainability.
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The Institute is delighted to welcome new employees to the team. With their support, we look forward to exciting impulses and joint successes.
New publication in the International Journal of Production Research: The research paper “A human-centric analysis of life cycle assessments: development and validation of a subject-oriented model”, authored by Lucas Greif, Svenja Hauck, Matthes Elstermann and Jivka Ovtcharova has been published!
We are pleased to announce that our research paper “Structured sampling strategies in Bayesian optimization: evaluation in mathematical and real-world scenarios”, authored by Lucas Greif, Niklas Hübschle, Andreas Kimmig, Simon Kreuzwieser, Anatole Martenne and Jivka Ovtcharova, has been published in the Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing.
The research paper “Robuste Bauteilidentifikation mittels digitaler Fingerabdrücke” by Lucas Greif, Jakob Bönsch, Karan Lashkare and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jivka Ovtcharova was published in the renowned Zeitschrift für wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb (ZWF). The publication deals with innovative methods for the unique identification of components based on digital fingerprints and thus makes an important contribution to quality assurance and traceability in production.
Our research paper “Digital Twins, Extended Reality, and Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Reconfiguration: A Systematic Literature Review”, authored by Anjela Mayer, Lucas Greif, Tim Markus Häußermann, Simon Otto, Kevin Kastner, Sleiman El Bobbou, Jean-Rémy Chardonnet, Julian Reichwald, Jürgen Fleischer and Jivka Ovtcharova, was published in the journal Sustainability.
IMI is presenting the innovative research project “IntWertL” at the Hannover Messe, which deals with the efficient and sustainable production of lightweight vehicles. From March 31 to April 4, 2025, visitors can experience the first results and the collaborative platform in Hall 8, Stand D26.
We are happy to share that our research paper, "Exact algorithms for routing electric autonomous mobile robots in intralogistics", authored by Anne Meyer [1], Timo Gschwind [2], Boris Amberg [3], and Dominik Colling [4], has been published in the European Journal of Operational Research (EJOR).