Machines Take Over the Job
A logistics overhaul at the Gorky Automobile Plant shows how Russian manufacturers are moving toward fully autonomous, factory‑wide transport systems powered by electric tow robots and real‑time coordination
Robots Doing the Work of Four People
The Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) has undergone a transformation that fundamentally redefines in‑plant logistics. More than fifty dedicated routes now guide intelligent, plant‑engineered robotic transporters through production halls.
Each robot is a compact electric tug resembling a scaled‑down truck. Its size allows maneuvering between workshops and production lines, while towing loads of up to 1,100 kilograms. The system relies on magnetic tape embedded in the floor with radiomarkers that serve as invisible navigation paths. Laser sensors mounted on the robot detect obstacles and prevent collisions with people, other robots, or equipment.
Robots communicate wirelessly, coordinating routes in real time. The system eliminates congestion, optimizes delivery timing, and ensures that every component arrives at its destination precisely when the next operation requires it.
The Future of Factory Logistics
Engineers are already developing upgraded versions of the robots capable of transporting loads of up to three tons and navigating without magnetic paths, using AI and LiDAR sensors instead. This will allow autonomous operation not only on specially prepared floors but also in standard workshops, outdoor areas, and environments where magnetic‑path installation is impractical.
The expansion potential is substantial. The technology can be adapted for other Russian automotive plants, machine‑building facilities, metal producers, and distribution centers. Wherever heavy loads must be transported between operational points, the robots can cut labor requirements, accelerate processes, and reduce injury risks.
For Russia, this creates an opportunity to build a domestic high‑tech industry focused on industrial mobile robots—systems that can be mass‑produced and exported. Countries in the post‑Soviet region, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are looking for automation solutions that do not depend on Western suppliers.
A Look Back at Automation
The history of AGV‑based logistics dates back decades. Automated Guided Vehicles first appeared in the 1950s in U.S. automotive plants, following magnetic strips much like the system used at GAZ today. Those early systems were expensive, unreliable, and limited. With the rise of electronics and computing, AGVs evolved and by the 1980s–1990s became standard in large Western automotive factories.
In Russia, automation developed unevenly. The Soviet era saw multiple attempts, but most stayed at the pilot‑project level. After the collapse of the USSR, Russian factories struggled for survival and could not invest in costly automation. By the 2010s, as the economy stabilized, discussions resumed—though often centered on purchasing imported solutions.
The GAZ project marks a turning point. For the first time, a Russian plant did not simply buy a ready‑made solution—it engineered its own. This aligns with the global Industry 4.0 trend and underscores Russia’s ability to develop modern automation technologies independently.
An Investment, Not a Fantasy
Robotic logistics at GAZ is more than a technology upgrade—it demonstrates that Russia can design its own industrial‑automation systems. Over the next three to five years, similar systems are expected to spread across the automotive sector: at other GAZ sites, Lada, KamAZ, and other equipment manufacturers. As adoption grows, robotization will become an economically justified investment. Implementation costs are projected to pay off within two to three years, and robot service life ranges from ten to fifteen years.
By 2035, robotic logistics is expected to be the standard for major Russian enterprises, substantially reducing demand for manual heavy labor. Human workers will shift to higher‑level responsibilities such as robot programming, strategic planning, quality control, and troubleshooting.
The GAZ project shows that Russian industry is not only surviving amid sanctions and import‑substitution pressures—it is capable of leading in the development of its own advanced technologies. This is a window of opportunity that must be expanded through continued investment in science, engineering, development, and scaling. GAZ’s example could mark the beginning of a new era in Russian industrial automation.
