A compact autonomous omnidirectional drive unit including: • a first drive assembly formed by a first drive wheel coaxial with a horizontal geometric axis, connected to a first motor, parallel to the horizontal geometric axis, through a first gearbox; • a second drive assembly formed by a second drive wheel coaxial with said horizontal geometric axis, connected to a second motor, parallel to the horizontal geometric axis, through a second gearbox; • a battery connected to said first and second motors (12, 22); • a chassis defining a front third, an intermediate third, and a rear third of the autonomous omnidirectional drive unit and a vertical geometric axis in a central position of the chassis, said chassis supporting the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly spaced from one another in the direction of the horizontal geometric axis, and supporting one or more caster wheels; • a horizontal transport platform located on the chassis for transporting loads; • a vertical housing, concentric with the vertical geometric axis and configured for allowing the passage of wiring from the drive unit to the transport platform and/or for containing a load lifting device configured for raising the transport platform or for lifting loads located on the transport platform in the direction of the vertical geometric axis; • a control device configured for controlling the first motor and the second motor by means of control commands generated by means of a calculation to produce an planned translation of the autonomous drive unit about the vertical geometric axis; the control device is configured for performing said calculation directly or indirectly including the distance as a calculation parameter; characterized in that • said one or more caster wheels are located in the rear third; • the first motor and the second motor are located in the central third, with the vertical housing being located between them; • the first and second drive wheels (11, 21) are located in the front third, with the battery being housed between them, and with the horizontal geometric axis being spaced from the vertical geometric axis by a distance. • a first drive assembly formed by a first drive wheel coaxial with a horizontal geometric axis, connected to a first motor, parallel to the horizontal geometric axis, through a first gearbox; • a second drive assembly formed by a second drive wheel coaxial with said horizontal geometric axis, connected to a second motor, parallel to the horizontal geometric axis, through a second gearbox; • a battery connected to said first and second motors (12, 22); • a chassis defining a front third, an intermediate third, and a rear third of the autonomous omnidirectional drive unit and a vertical geometric axis in a central position of the chassis, said chassis supporting the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly spaced from one another in the direction of the horizontal geometric axis, and supporting one or more caster wheels; • a horizontal transport platform located on the chassis for transporting loads; • a vertical housing, concentric with the vertical geometric axis and configured for allowing the passage of wiring from the drive unit to the transport platform and/or for containing a load lifting device configured for raising the transport platform or for lifting loads located on the transport platform in the direction of the vertical geometric axis; • a control device configured for controlling the first motor and the second motor by means of control commands generated by means of a calculation to produce an planned translation of the autonomous drive unit about the vertical geometric axis; the control device is configured for performing said calculation directly or indirectly including the distance as a calculation parameter; • said one or more caster wheels are located in the rear third; • the first motor and the second motor are located in the central third, with the vertical housing being located between them; • the first and second drive wheels (11, 21) are located in the front third, with the battery being housed between them, and with the horizontal geometric axis being spaced from the vertical geometric axis by a distance.