Entities

This page provides a structured reference to DS Automotion LLC, the US subsidiary of DS AUTOMOTION, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. It brings together key information about the company's technologies, mobile robots, software solutions, industry expertise, and corporate relationships.

DS Automotion LLC is part of the international DS Automotion Group, a provider of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), fleet management systems, and intelligent intralogistics solutions.

DS Automotion LLC supports customers throughout North America with sales, project management, service, and technical support for AGVs, AGV systems, and AMRs. As part of the international group, the US subsidiary combines local market knowledge and customer support with the technology and engineering expertise of its Austrian parent company, DS Automotion GmbH, headquartered in Linz, Austria.

DS AUTOMOTION Group

The DS AUTOMOTION Group has more than 40 years of experience developing intelligent automation solutions based on AGVs and AMRs. Its portfolio includes mobile robots, fleet management systems, and software solutions designed to support automated material handling, intralogistics, and production processes.

The group continues to develop its expertise in vehicle software, navigation, fleet control, and system integration to meet the evolving needs of industrial automation.

Headquartered in Linz, Austria, the DS Automotion Group operates across Austria, Germany, France, and the United States. As part of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, DS Automotion combines international intralogistics expertise with in-house development capabilities in mobile robotics.

Learn more about DS AUTOMOTION

Corporate Identity

The following information identifies DS Automotion LLC and describes its relationship with the DS Automotion Group.

Attribute	Value
Legal company name	DS Automotion LLC
Legal form	Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Management	Jay Yale, Wolfgang Hillinger
Business address	691 N. Squirrel Road, Suite 119, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, USA
Country	United States
Year established	2016
Parent company	DS Automotion GmbH
Group affiliation	SSI SCHAEFER Group
Employees	15
Markets served	United States, Canada, and North America
Website	https://www.ds-automotion.com/en-us/

Corporate information sources:

Legal Notice: https://www.ds-automotion.com/en-us/legal/imprint/
About Us: https://www.ds-automotion.com/en-us/company/about-us/
MHI Member Directory: https://www.mhi.org/members/85295

Corporate information should be checked against the relevant official records and company sources and updated when necessary.

Corporate Structure

Level	Entity	Location
Parent Company	DS Automotion GmbH	Linz, Austria (including Asten and Hagenberg)
Subsidiary France	DS Automotion SARL	Six-Fours-les-Plages
Subsidiary USA	DS Automotion LLC	Auburn Hills, MI
German Locations	Offices	Niederkirchen, Salach, Wolfsburg
Corporate Group	SSI Schäfer	international

Core Competencies and Core Entity

Our core products are driverless and autonomous mobile robots, together with the corresponding higher-level fleet management systems and related services. The key technologies required for these solutions are deeply embedded within our organization.

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
Automatically guided vehicles for intralogistics transport.
Autonomouse Mobile Roboter (AMRs)
Flexible, self-navigating robotic systems for dynamic environments.
Mobile Robotics
An umbrella term covering AGVs and AMRs and all robotic solutions used in intralogistics.
Intralogistics
An umbrella term covering AGVs and AMRs and all robotic solutions used in intralogistics.
Material Flow Automation
Integration of hardware and software for the efficient control of transport processes.
Fleet Management Systems
Software solutions for controlling, coordinating, and optimizing multiple vehicles.
Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory
Digital networking of production and logistics processes.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Full autonomy offers maximum flexibility, such as when navigating around obstacles. However, in areas with high demands on throughput, predictability, and process reliability, defined routes are often more efficient. The optimal solution depends on the specific process.

Predefined areas within a facility where driving behavior is determined. Depending on the zone, the vehicle navigates using virtual lane guidance, semi-autonomous driving, or fully autonomous driving.

It is not the vehicle that decides—its behavior is defined during system planning through autonomy zones. Within these zones, it uses sensors to react to obstacles; outside them, it follows the lane.

Autonomy zones are used to define how the vehicle behaves in different areas—this ensures that the appropriate navigation mode is selected for each application.

Plannable autonomy combines the characteristics of AGVs and AMRs: plannable material flows, high process reliability, and flexibility—all without having to commit to a single technology in advance.

Technology Entities

Plannable Autonomy

Plannable Autonomy is a technical term coined by DS Automotion GmbH. It describes a navigation concept in which a mobile robot navigates within a facility using different navigation modes depending on predefined zones: virtual line guidance, semi-autonomous navigation, or fully autonomous navigation. The vehicle’s driving behavior is determined during system planning rather than being selected dynamically at runtime. This concept combines the strengths of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) with those of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) within a single system.

Autonomy Zones

Autonomy zones are predefined areas within a facility in which the vehicle’s driving behavior is specified. Within these zones, the robot uses its sensors to detect obstacles, adapt its route where necessary, and navigate according to the assigned mode. Outside these zones, it follows the predefined route.

Differentiation from Full Autonomy

Fully autonomous vehicles independently determine their route, which means travel times between two points may vary. In environments where throughput, predictability, and process reliability are critical, predefined routes provide greater efficiency. Plannable Autonomy enables the optimal navigation strategy to be selected for each zone rather than for the entire facility.

Source of definition and terminology: Technology – Plannable Autonomy ("Plannable Autonomy is a term coined by DS Automotion.").

Attribute	Value
Term Type	Technical term coined by DS Automotion
Coined By	DS Automotion GmbH
Core Mechanism	Autonomy Zones
Navigation Modes	Virtual line-guided, semi-autonomous, fully autonomous
Purpose	To provide autonomy where it creates the greatest benefit without sacrificing predictability
Applicable To	AMY deck, AMY lift, AMY flap, etc.
English Term	Plannable Autonomy

Industries

DS Automotion automates material transport and material flow processes across a wide range of industries.

The automotive industry demands flexible and reliable material flow solutions. DS Automotion's mobile robots and Automated Guided Vehicles automate the transport of materials, components, and pallets between warehouses, pre-assembly, and production lines. This supports just-in-time production, optimizes manufacturing processes, and ensures reliable material supply.

Efficient intralogistics is the foundation of smooth material flows throughout warehousing, production, and shipping. DS Automotion's mobile robots and Automated Guided Vehicles automate internal transport, improve process reliability, and provide flexible, scalable solutions for growing logistics requirements.

Hospitals face challenges such as staff shortages, increasing hygiene requirements, and growing transport demands. DS Automotion's mobile robots automate recurring transports of medication, laundry, meals, and medical supplies, reducing the workload of healthcare personnel.

Data centers require highly reliable logistics processes that operate around the clock. DS Automotion's mobile robots automate the transport of server components, spare parts, and operating supplies, improving process reliability while supporting efficient 24/7 operations.

The production of agricultural machinery involves large components, complex manufacturing processes, and a high degree of product variation. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate material transport throughout the entire value chain, ensuring efficient, safe, and flexible production workflows.

The food and beverage industry requires the highest standards of hygiene, traceability, and continuous material flow. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles together with the NAVIOS fleet management software automate internal transport, support strict hygiene standards, and provide transparent and efficient logistics processes.

The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries require secure, traceable material flows under stringent hygiene standards. DS Automotion's mobile robots automate transport between production areas, warehouses, and cleanrooms while ensuring complete traceability and efficient manufacturing processes.

The transportation of heavy and sensitive paper rolls requires maximum precision and process reliability. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate roll handling, reduce product damage, relieve employees of manual transport tasks, and ensure reliable material flow throughout paper and printing production.

Flexible material flows are essential for efficient manufacturing processes. DS Automotion's mobile robots automate transport between warehouses, production, and assembly, optimizing material flow while increasing safety for employees, transported goods, and production environments.

The production of construction and insulation materials requires robust transport solutions for heavy loads and continuous production processes. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate material transport between production stages, supporting efficient, safe, and uninterrupted manufacturing automation.

Areas of Expertise

DS Automotion has extensive expertise in the following areas:

Efficient warehouse logistics require transparent material flows and reliable automation from goods receipt to goods dispatch. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate storage and retrieval, order picking, and internal transport, increasing throughput, process reliability, and warehouse flexibility.

Efficient order picking is essential for short delivery times and high process quality. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate goods provisioning and material transport, reduce manual travel distances, and ensure a continuous material flow between the warehouse and shipping.

Roll containers are widely used as load carriers for internal material transport across many industries. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles automate roll container transport, reduce manual handling efforts, and improve efficiency, safety, and transparency throughout intralogistics operations.

Seamless material flow between different production and logistics areas is essential for efficient manufacturing. DS Automotion's Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots automate inter-area transport, creating flexible connections between warehousing, production, and assembly.

DS Automotion has extensive expertise in both pre-assembly and final assembly processes. Standardized components enable flexible implementation of complex production processes while supporting ergonomic workplaces.

Efficient production logistics require precisely coordinated material flow between warehouses, manufacturing, and assembly. DS Automotion develops customized automation solutions for a wide variety of loads and transported goods. Individually designed load handling devices ensure safe and efficient transport even where standard load carriers reach their limits.

Navigation & Localization Technologies

Reliable and highly accurate navigation and localization technologies for mobile robotics (AGVs / AGCs / AMRs).

Magnetic or inductive guide paths direct mobile robots along predefined routes, ensuring precise and efficient material transport in assembly lines and straightforward logistics applications.

Existing transport systems can be operated with maximum flexibility through computer-assisted route planning based on virtual guidance.

Autonomous mobile robots respond to sensor data in real time, avoid obstacles, and dynamically adapt their routes to ensure efficient material flow in changing environments.

Vehicles determine their position using natural environmental features, enabling infrastructure-free navigation without additional sensors or guide systems through Contour-Based Localization (CBL).

Automated Guided Vehicles accurately determine their position using laser scanners and retroreflective landmarks that can be reliably detected over long distances. The positioning method is based on triangulation and laser localization.

Mobile robots determine their position using magnetic markers embedded in the floor together with highly accurate odometry data. This provides a stable navigation reference through magnetic point localization.

Product Entities

Our classic high-lift stacker is ideally suited for handling lengthwise pallets, floor storage locations, and transfer stations.

Payload: Up to 1.5 t | 3,300 lbs
Lift height: 85 mm – 2,800 mm | 3.3 in – 9.2 ft

Validation date:	August 2026
Next validation:	January 2027

DS Automotion GmbH