Autonomous mobile robots and their off-road and outdoor capabilities
A success story
Feb 23, 2026 — Rigdon, a tyre reconditioning company based in Günzburg (Germany), was facing major challenges in its internal logistics. As a medium-sized company that transports a large volume of tyres between various production stations and the warehouse on a daily basis, Rigdon needed a solution that offered both efficiency and flexibility.
The INDUROS AMR autonomously moves tyres from outdoor storage to the production stations © Innok Robotics
The previous manual transport solutions were inefficient and required significant human resources. In addition, the floor conditions in the production halls and outside areas were so poor that conventional robotic solutions were out of the question.
The following possible applications were evaluated:
- Transport vehicle for pallet trolleys, mesh boxes, CC containers, scrap/chip containers and much more.
- Replacement of a tugger train with several trailers
- With the "roller conveyor" option as an all-terrain transport solution for KLT containers and parcels
Rigdon decided to autonomise the following process first: The robot moves the tyre trolleys between the production stations and the warehouse, coupling and uncoupling them autonomously in each case.
The solution:
- What was installed (machine, layout)?
Innok Robotics installed the INDUROS, an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) specially developed for use in demanding conditions. The INDUROS was equipped with the ability to work fully autonomously both indoors and outdoors, namely multiterrain. Innok multiterrain means that the robots drive fully autonomously and in combination both indoors and outdoors - on good and bad floors, over obstacles such as speed bumps or gravel and also in wind and weather from hall to hall. The layout involved integrating the INDUROS into the existing production process, with the robot driving the tyre trolleys between the production stations and the warehouse and coupling and uncoupling them autonomously. - Why was this particular solution chosen over the alternatives?
The INDUROS was chosen because of its unique ability to work in extreme conditions - Innok multiterrain. In addition, thanks to Innok Hybrid Navigation, no structural changes to the existing buildings or terrain were required, allowing for a cost-effective and quick implementation. INDUROS' safety standards, including certified laser scanners and outdoor-approved safety scanners, ensured that the robot could work safely in a crowded environment. - How quickly could the solution be implemented?
The INDUROS was implemented at Rigdon in a very short time. Thanks to the intuitive Innok Cockpit software, navigation and order management could be set up quickly and easily. The integration of the INDUROS into Rigdon's production process was completed within a few days, meaning that the robot could be integrated into daily operations immediately.
The evaluation:
What were the benefits? How did AI and/or digitalisation contribute to the success of the solution?
The introduction of INDUROS at Rigdon brought significant benefits. The autonomous coupling and uncoupling of the tyre trolleys and the reliable transport between the production stations and the warehouse led to a significant increase in efficiency. The INDUROS could work for up to 24 hours at a time and recharge itself fully autonomously and inductively during inactive periods, maximising uptime. This was particularly important as it was becoming increasingly difficult for Rigdon to find staff for the night shift.
The digitalisation and AI-based navigation of the INDUROS enabled precise and safe control of the robot, even in a difficult environment. This led to a reduction in operating costs and better utilisation of personnel, as key skilled workers could be deployed for more qualified activities.
Compared to human-operated vehicles, Rigdon achieves an ROI within 1.0 - 2.5 years, depending on the number of work shifts. Overall, Rigdon saves up to €40,000 per shift and year by using the INDUROS, depending on the utilisation of the robot in the order backlog. The Innok Hybrid Navigation and the robust design of the INDUROS made it the ideal solution for Rigdon. The continuous improvement of the technology ensures that Rigdon will continue to benefit from autonomous mobility in the future and that the acquisition of further robots in the fleet will be mapped via the Innok Cockpit or industry standards such as VDA5050.
