Berlin, May 19, 2026 – The “ELMAR - Integration and demonstration of the use of electric heavy-duty transport vehicles in the raw materials industry” research project was successfully completed after three years. Under the leadership and initiative of the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) of the RWTH Aachen University and with significant participation of PSI Software SE, a consortium researched the potential of electrification and automation in raw material extraction. The focus was on developing practical AI-supported solutions for efficient and climate-neutral operations in German stone and earth extraction companies. The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy (BMWE) as part of the Electromobility Funding Initiative (funding code 01MV22001A - H).
The goal of the project was to research and demonstrate the use of electric and autonomous transport vehicles to minimize CO2 emissions and design sustainable operational processes in raw material extraction companies. The project demonstrated the importance of comprehensive digitalization and the use of intelligent software as fundamental prerequisites for the industry’s transformation.
PSI contributed its expertise in the field of industrial artificial intelligence and developed a central, cloud-based service platform. A key feature was the integration of PSIqualicision AI, an adaptive AI application from the PSI Industrial AI Framework. This enables the multi-criteria optimization of complex production and transport processes. By simulating various scenarios, transparent and fact-based recommendations for demand- and energy-efficient production planning in the context of scheduling tasks were generated.
Furthermore, a chat interface based on a Large Language Model (LLM) and the generative layer of the IAI framework were used to explore an innovative approach to intelligent user support (Integrated Didactics) for software usage. This approach builds a technological bridge between reliable, fact-based AI optimization provided by PSIqualicision AI and the explanatory capabilities of generative AI, ensuring transparent and reliable results even in complex industrial environments.
The systems, approaches, and methods designed in the project were tested at the Eigenrieden limestone quarry and the Nivelstein quartz sand plant. The project demonstrated the potential of optimization supported by adaptive AI. For PSI, the results underscore the necessity of fact-based data collection and form the technological basis for future digitalization steps in this sector as well as in the metal industry.
"PSI therefore thanks all partners for their goal-oriented and trusting collaboration, particularly RWTH Aachen University, the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) and the Institute for Power Electronics and Electric Drives (ISEA), Volvo Construction Equipment Germany GmbH, Knauf Gips KG, Mineral Baustoff GmbH, TITUS Research GmbH, and Volvo Group Trucks Central Europe GmbH,” states Arnd Grootz, PSI Software SE.
The PSI Group develops software products for optimizing the flow of energy and materials for utilities and industry. As an independent software producer with more than 2,300 employees, PSI has been a technology leader since 1969 for process control systems that ensure sustainable energy supply, production and logistics by combining AI methods with industrially proven optimization methods. The innovative industry products can be operated on-premises or in the cloud.
