## 5 Industry Applications and Manufacturers
### Companies Manufacturing Autonomous Forklifts  
This research also focuses on automated forklifts designed for multi-level load handling in warehouse racing systems, emphasizing their essential vertical lifting capabilities. Conversely, floor-level automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which do not support vertical lifting into tracking systems, are excluded from consideration as they serve different functional purposes. There are several companies that provide autonomous forklifts or autonomous guided vehicles designed for material handling and warehouse automation. The vehicles described below are specifically designed to handle palletized loads. Table 11 lists the leading companies in the field of self-driving forklifts, which provide warehouse solutions and fleet management solutions in the market, along with the country in which they originate. Further details about the pioneer company's products manufactured in this domain can be found below:  
* Toyota Material Handling: Toyota is a well-known manufacturer of forklifts, and they also offer autonomous forklifts under the brand name \"Autopilot\". Their AGVs are designed to work alongside human operators or autonomously in warehouses and distribution centers. * KION Group: KION Group is a leading provider of intralogistics solutions and offers autonomous forklifts through their subsidiary, \"Linde Material Handling\". Their AGVs are designed to navigate through warehouses and perform various material handling tasks without human intervention. * Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Hyster-Yale is another major manufacturer of forklifts and material-handling equipment. They offer autonomous solutions under the brand name \"Hyster Robotic\" or \"Balyo\" (their partner in autonomous technology). Their AGVs can be retrofitted onto existing forklifts, enabling them to operate autonomously. * Seegrid: Seegrid specializes in autonomous mobile robots for material handling. They offer a range of autonomous pallet trucks and tow tractors that can navigate complex environments using vision-based technology. These AGVs are designed to optimize workflows and increase efficiency in warehouses and distribution centers. * Aethon (acquired by ST Engineering): Aethon, now part of ST Engineering, offers autonomous mobile robots for material transportation and delivery within hospitals and industrial facilities. While not strictly forklifts, their AGVs are capable of autonomously transporting loads and can be customized to handle specific tasks. Above are just a few examples, and the autonomous forklift market is continuously developing with new contestants entering the industry. Ongoing and continuous research is required in this field as the market for autonomous vehicles is ever-evolving. These companies are at the forefront of developing autonomous forklift technology, aiming to improve efficiency and safety in warehouse and logistics operations. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l} \hline \hline
**Forklift Companies** \\ \hline Seegrid \\ Toyota Material Handling \\ OTTO Motors \\ Balyo \\ Linde Material Handling \\ Vecna Robotics \\ Toyota Material Handling, OTTO Motors \\ Comblilit \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 11: Notable forklift companies adopting autonomous technologies. Below, different types of autonomous forklifts are demonstrated to review all ideas and proposals about this technology in industrial and academic domains. In this section, the most prominent contributions drawn from various articles and conference papers in the field of design and advancement of autonomous forklifts are presented. Problems and challenges are outlined as well. These contributions, along with many others, contribute to the advancement of autonomous forklift technology, making it more capable, efficient, safe and sustainable. The companies listed are well-known manufacturers in the forklift industry, but whether they are the most well known or top-selling can vary depending on different factors such as geographical location, market segment and specific requirements of customers.