ANT Machines is participating in the Horizon Europe project FORTIS through the ANTARES initiative (ANT-based Activities Recognition for Enhanced Safety), developed in collaboration with the Belgian strategic research centre Flanders Make. The collaboration focuses on advanced human-robot interaction technologies for industrial and logistics environments, where autonomous vehicles must operate safely alongside human workers, trucks, forklifts, and other moving equipment.
As part of the project, ANT Machines is exploring the integration of advanced Human Activity Recognition (HAR) capabilities into its autonomous yard robotics systems. The goal is to improve situational awareness and operational safety in dynamic logistics environments, addressing one of the key challenges to the wider adoption of autonomous industrial vehicles in spaces shared with people.
The ANTARES initiative combines 3D LiDAR point cloud data with multi-camera imagery to support real-time tracking of human movement and recognition of control gestures. By processing data locally on edge computing systems with low-latency response times, the technology aims to help autonomous vehicles better anticipate potential collision risks and navigate safely in complex outdoor yard environments.
Participation in FORTIS further expands ANT Machines’ collaboration with European research organisations, universities, and industrial technology partners working to advance trustworthy, human-centric industrial robotics.
