Hare and Hedgehog

Anja Herwig, CC BY 4.0

Until 2019 the branch library of natural sciences was equipped with a driverless transport system and two associated transport robots called "Hare" and "Hedgehog". A transport system of this kind was unique in European libraries and is normally only used in industry.

With the help of this system, book transports from and to various transfer stations could be carried out independently and autonomously by library staff. Only the destination information in the form of a barcode, which is automatically read by the transport robots, had to be entered by an employee. Everything else, such as opening doors and operating the lift, could be done by "Hare" and "Hedgehog" completely independently.

Using reflectors and a laser on the device, the two transport robots oriented themselves along fixed paths through the entire library.

Since 2019, the two have been in well-deserved retirement and can only be visited on special occasions.

Literature (in german only)

Schulz, Eckart: The eternal race between hare and hedgehog. In: BuB : Forum Bibliothek und Information, Issue 02/03, 2018, pp. 114-115, second publication on the HU publication server, DOI: 10.18452/19785

Hare and hedgehog in the media (all in german)

markerabel: Hare and hedgehog (ZDF.kultur, Der Marker from 07.06.2011)

Colleague Robot: Uncanny encounter at the bookshelf (Spiegel Online from 23.05.2011)

Berlin curiosity: Hare and hedgehog in Adlershof (Berliner Morgenpost from 22.11.2009)

University heroes: The Robots (Unsolicited from 01.04.2004)

Further information

Pictures of hare and hedgehog

Manufacturer: EK Automation

Press enquiries

Public Relations: Anja Herwig, Phone: +49 30 2093-99707, nawi.pr@ub.hu-berlin.de