New cycle of the University Research Program will begin accepting funding proposals in October 2026

GREENE, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Since 2016, the University Research Program has funded projects from over 30 leading universities across North America driving the next generation of technology for the supply chain, logistics and material handling industries, drawing synergies and collaboration between collegiate research and The Raymond Corporation. Previous grant recipients have explored topics such as flexibility in logistics systems and automation; virtual reality (VR) and operator productivity; omnichannel facilities and vehicle routing; and robotics.

Recipients of funding from the University Research Program have made headway to advancing the future of the material handling industry, impacting ways of working and optimizing operations. Dr. Michael Kuhl, professor of industrial and systems engineering, and Dr. Ehsan Rashedi, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, spearheaded a research project with funding from the University Research Program, Impact of Human-Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) Gesture Communication. The project connected actual industry practices with human factors, ergonomics, cognitive considerations, and computer vision. The team researched warehouse communication scenarios such as how workers use horns, verbally communicate, visual signals, and informal gestures, and then developed a structured gesture vocabulary covering worker intentions, commands, and bidirectional acknowledgment.

“As warehouses and distribution centers continue to adopt automation, the industry needs communication methods that feel natural to workers while remaining reliable for autonomous systems,” said Dr. Kuhl and Dr. Rashedi. “This project provides an important step in that direction by helping establish a structured gesture vocabulary and a rigorous methodology for evaluation performance in realistic operating environments. The insights and data generated through this work have the potential to support future communication standards and help create more reliable and predictable interactions between people and autonomous mobile robots.”

The University Research Program is announcing a new cycle timeline to align with the university academic year. Now accepting proposals beginning on October 1, 2026, the 2026-2027 funding cycle will have final applications due by February 28, 2027. Announcements for selected project proposals will be shared in May 2027. The Raymond Corporation created the University Research Program to empower professors and student researchers to apply their engineering and technical research to discover cutting-edge solutions for the material handling industry.

The sponsored research program will award grant funding up to $500,000. Selected proposals may receive total financial support of up to $250,000 for one year of research. Open to North American universities, the program will evaluate proposals based on innovation, feasibility and potential for future commercial application.

“The material handling industry is an ever-evolving landscape and looks to the next generation of leaders to shape the future of our industry,” said Joe Weiss, advanced research manager, The Raymond Corporation. “As we enter our next cycle of investing in research from academic institutions across North America, we are eagerly anticipating seeing the ways in which researchers look to address our industry’s biggest challenges. Our steadfast commitment to the University Research Program reflects our dedication to the advancement of the material handling industry.”

The 2027 submission timeline for proposals to continue advancing the supply chain, logistics and material handling industries is as follows:

• October 1, 2026: Request for proposals opens.
• December 31, 2026: Concept paper due.
• February 28, 2027: Application deadline.
• May 2027: Selected projects announced.

The key research areas for the 2027 funding cycle are:

Future of Logistics

• Designing Intuitive and Adaptive Human–Machine Interfaces for Future Operators
• Reliable Embedded AI for Real-Time Vehicle Awareness, Decision Support, Task Execution, and Vehicle Control

Improving Material Handling

• Component and Vehicle-level Prognostics & Remaining Useful Life
• Resilient and Reconfigurable Warehouse Automation
• AI-Era Cybersecurity and Resilience for Connected and Automated Material Handling Systems
• Applied Evaluation of High-Value Humanoid Robotics Applications in Material Handling
  • Topical areas of interest may include but not limited to:
    • Order and piece picking
    • Exception handling and replenishment
    • Handling irregular or variable-size loads
    • Trailer/container unloading
    • Evaluation against AMRs, robotic arms, conventional automation and human labor

Truck and Operation Evolution

• Interoperability & Orchestration of Connected Material Handling with Intermittent Connectivity
• Operator Assist and Situational Awareness
• Advanced Perception, Sensor Fusion & Contextual Warehouse Forklift or Fleet Operation
• Predictive Risk Mitigation in Defined Mixed Human-Manual-Autonomous Material Handling Environments
  • Topical areas of interest may include but not limited to:
    • Blind intersections
    • Aisle entry/exit
    • Pedestrian crossings
    • Loading/unloading docks
    • Manual/autonomous truck interactions
    • Reversing, turning, congestion, and shared workspaces

To learn more about the University Research Program, including information on previously funded projects and how to apply, visit UniversityResearchProgram.com. For more information about The Raymond Corporation, visit raymondcorp.com.

About The Raymond Corporation
The Raymond Corporation, a Toyota group company, is a leading global provider of best-in-class material handling products and intelligent intralogistics solutions. Built on principles of innovation and continuous improvement for over 100 years, Raymond’s integrated automation, telematics, virtual reality and advanced energy solutions provide ways to optimize operations and bring warehouse and distribution operations to a new level of performance. Raymond^® electric forklift trucks are engineered to achieve increased productivity and efficiency and are designed to provide ecological and economic benefits. Raymond delivers solutions to material handling and logistics markets in North America and globally. Combining operational excellence, award-winning innovation and world-class global customer support, we work together to run better, manage smarter and keep our customers always on. For more information, visit raymondcorp.com and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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