Mercedes-Benz collaborated with 3D printing studio FATHOM in Oakland, California to design an advanced cargo delivery management system. By using electromechanical modules embedded with sensors, cargo delivery companies can track packages from inside the delivery vehicle. Overall, the Mercedes-FATHOM system is a faster delivery system, eliminating the need to sort and identify packages in the truck. Neal Ulrich, a design engineer at Mercedes Xtron Laboratories, explained: “Currently, the delivery truck is a bit like a black box. The cargo sensor system lets us know what’s in the truck and tells the driver where the package is, which speeds up the delivery process. ."
This innovative cargo system consists of a series of smart modules. Once the package is placed on it, the system can accurately track the weight of the package. By cross-referencing the precise weight of the package and the shipping list system, the system can immediately identify the location of the package. In this way, the driver does not need to go back and forth in the cargo compartment of the truck to find packages to be delivered.

In the R&D stage of the smart module, 3D printing technology is used to achieve efficient prototype design iteration. "3D printing and other rapid prototyping processes shorten the entire design process and make it easier," Ulrich said. "These processes allow us to make different changes to the design simultaneously or continuously. By testing real prototypes, We can quickly find out what works and what does not work. It only took about four weeks from the engineering drawings to the first real prototype.

Trucks equipped with smart modules eliminate the need to sort goods
Initially, FATHOM’s business was to sell 3D printers, but now the studio has turned to production and innovation. They have a large number of different additive manufacturing technologies, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), polymer jetting (PolyJet), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and The extremely rare Dragonfly 2020 from the Israeli company Nano Dimensions. Therefore, FATHOM does not lack additive manufacturing technology.
The Mercedes Cargo Sensor System is FATHOM's best-known attempt. Currently, the Oakland team has been working with Mercedes engineers to produce more than 240 electromechanical modules within five weeks. This system has attracted a lot of industry attention, and we will witness 3D printing technology's promotion of innovation in the automotive manufacturing industry.