Medicar4.0 – Digitization and Automation of Hospital Logistics

Medicar 4.0

As the consortium leader, SPIE subsidiary bridgingIT is managing the Medicar 4.0 research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The project’s main objective is to enable healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to patient care.

The implementation of new technologies in hospital environments involves a range of complex challenges. Key technical factors include human-machine interaction, interface integration, and obstacle detection—each critical for reliable system performance. In addition, on-site conditions must be taken into account, and rigorous quality standards must be maintained. Social aspects are equally important: the technology should enhance staff workflows without causing disruption.

Medicar is a highly automated electric vehicle system designed to digitalize and streamline logistical processes in hospitals. It autonomously handles routine transport tasks—such as the delivery of medical supplies, blood samples, or laundry—traditionally carried out by nursing staff. By automating these operations, Medicar helps reduce the burden on hospital personnel, creating more capacity for direct patient care.

In modern hospitals, daily transport tasks are comparable to the logistics of a small city. Medicar automates these routines, easing the burden on staff and enhancing the safety of transporting critical items. As part of the "Medicar 4.0" project, Industry 4.0 concepts are being transferred to hospital logistics. Human-machine interaction plays a key role in ensuring the safe and efficient use of autonomous transport robots.

A dedicated test laboratory has been established to simulate and refine various scenarios before practical implementation. The integration of new technologies is supported by a Software-as-a-Service platform with a vendor-neutral “plug & work” approach, allowing for the flexible combination of different systems.

Location-based solutions further increase efficiency by enabling real-time tracking of transport activities.

As the consortium lead, bridgingIT plays a central role in project management, requirements engineering, and the development of IT solutions for logistics and healthcare. Medicar contributes to improved patient care and greater cost efficiency—allowing healthcare professionals to focus more effectively on their core responsibilities.

LC_9731_bIT_Future-Work_S_vorab_V20171126_preview

Duration:
Three-year research project launched in September 2023.

Contact:
Lars Christiansen 
lars.christiansen@bridging-it.de

Artikel teilen

Benefits

Cost Efficiency
Reduction of manual, time-consuming tasks
Relief for nursing staff
Increased transport and quality security

USE CASES
Asset Tracking in Healthcare Facilities
Asset tracking streamlines clinical and logistical processes in hospitals. Real‑time tracking of medical equipment and beds reduces costs and increases overall efficiency.
Digitalization of Shipping Processes for Mann+Hummel
Optimized Shipping Processes through Digitalization: In collaboration with Mann+Hummel, we reduced search times by 20% and minimized errors using ultra-wideband tracking and barcode technology.
AI-Driven Spare Parts Identification
The AI‑powered spare parts search streamlines maintenance processes. Using photo or text input combined with AI analysis, spare parts can be identified quickly, and orders can be placed directly through the app.