Toyota calls for material handling research proposals

If you work in academia but are dying to put your knowledge to practical use, here's your chance. Lift truck manufacturer Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) is looking for innovative material handling solutions and is making research funding available for projects aimed at advancing the science of supply chain, logistics, and material handling.

TMHNA is now accepting applications for its third annual University Research Program, a sponsored research program created to drive and advance the next generation of material handling industry technology. Full-time professors and researchers at North American universities are invited to submit proposals via the program's website, www.UniversityResearchProgram.com, through Dec. 15. Proposals will be evaluated for their impact on the future of the industry, as well as the planning and feasibility of the timeline and budget. Selected proposals will receive financial support of up to $500,000 per year, and faculty may be invited to renew the contract for up to three years, based on research outcomes, the Columbus, Ind.-based forklift manufacturer says.

Last year's winners included projects covering virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), energy infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Industry 4.0. For the 2018/2019 program, TMHNA is looking for proposals on:

• Material handling for last-mile delivery, urban environments, piece-picking, reverse logistics, and automation
• Remote operation of material handling equipment
• Warehousing energy infrastructure
• VR/AR for material handling applications
• Machine learning in material handling
• Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for material handling equipment
• Industry 4.0.