Logistics nodes are points at which cargo is transferred between modes of transport, handling different types of cargo and using specialised machinery. In order to be able to carry out such complex operations and improve cargo handling capacity, technological advances and innovation have been developing for years in the field of machinery and transport.
If we focus on the land side, the need to optimise the flow of goods in ports has led to the use of free-travelling smart vehicles. Cargo-ANTs aims precisely at creating Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Automated Trucks (ATs), considered a safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly freight transport that can cooperate in port cargo terminals.
Also within the port area, one of the major obstacles faced has been the progressive increase in the size of vessels. This evolution has generated two major challenges for ports and container terminals: 1) the need for greater cargo handling capacity of transports and machinery; 2) the need to adapt machinery and port equipment to the new dimensions of vessels. COFASTRANS has recognised both problems by offering, instead of the existing cantilever cranes and long straight-line berths, an innovative solution with a portal crane and an indented berth.
Cargo handling by Automated Next generation Transportation Systems for ports and terminals (CARGO ANTS)
Cargo-ANTs aims to create smart Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Automated Trucks (ATs) that can co- operate in shared workspaces for efficient and safe freight transportation in main ports and freight terminals.
Halmstad’s contributions is an integrated planning framework (software) for task allocation, global path planning and local trajectory planning.
An autonomous driving system was also developed for AGVs and ATVs for container transport in ports and cargo terminals. It was accompanied by demonstrated planning, decision, control and safety strategies for these vehicles.
Finally, a robust
grid-independent positioning system
and an environmental perception system
were also built to improve operational safety. (CORDIS - European
Commission (n.d.). https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/605598) A Fast And Eco-efficient Transhipment System For Ultra Large Container Vessels
(COFASTRANS) COFASTRANS is a project which objective is helping to
operating larger container vessels reducing also the operating time. For that, the project creates, together with Konecranes,
a system for loading and unloading larger container ships in international
container ports using an innovative portal crane and indented berth, instead of
the existing cantilever cranes and long straight-line berths. With this, the
project will substantially improve the efficiency of container transportation
in terms of time, cost and environmental impact. For that, the project creates,
together with Konecranes, a system
for loading and unloading larger
container ships in international
container ports using an innovative portal crane and indented berth, instead of the existing cantilever cranes and long
straight-line berths. With this, the project will substantially improve the
efficiency of container transportation in terms of time, cost and environmental
impact. (Cofastrans (n.d.). <https://www.cofastrans.com/>)