Port Automation Made Possible

Technologies like automated guided vehicles brought an automated port to life in Qingdao, China.

The sounds of frustrated truckers and dockworkers has been replaced by the soft roar of machinery in Qingdao, China. Being the first port to be fully controlled by artificial intelligence, Qingdao has set a worldwide standard for the potential of automation at ports. In this technological hub, machines move autonomously at all hours of the day and night, meticulously and effortlessly transferring cargo. One of the greatest advantages of Qingdao is its utilization of Automated Guided Vehicles. 

Fully operational since May 2017, Qingdao has broken a variety of records and sets to meet exceptional standards in loading, unloading, storage and logistics. At Qingdao, a container is loaded every five seconds using AGVs and moving crane systems. The fully automated zone produces results faster than any port in the world. Recently, Qingdao broke its own world record for average efficiency by performing at 52.1 moves per hour of standard containers for a single crane. Through an interview with an American trucker, the international value of the issues Qingdao has mended by introducing full-port automation are put into perspective. “When I arrive at ports, I spend hours waiting for port employees to find my cargo”, he said. Full port automation drastically decreases the possibility for human error, as modelled by Quingdao’s performance. Qingdao becomes a prime example of the possibilities that exist in port automation, and sets a high standard for innovation and productivity. 

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) are intuitive machines that automatically optimize internal transportation. They are essential forces in creating a fully machine-automated port system in Qingdao. The 38 vehicles at this location carry loads and transport materials independently using sensors. AGVs are capable of transferring materials from ships, to ports and onto trucks. Magnetic bars in the ground guide the vehicles accurately to their destinations, and the machinery is able to return itself to the charging station when needed. Operations at Qingdao utilize the machines to support a high-speed, more economical and safer container transport system. Implementing AGVs allows for the utilization of control centers where only nine employees are needed to sufficiently monitor the logistics at Qingdao. Previously, 60 workers were needed to complete the same tasks at Qingdao. As industries adopt the wonder that is automation, the convenience brought about by AGVs becomes a key investment for businesses worldwide. The market size of AGVs was valued at $5.21 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $13.52 billion by 2027. As the market for automation grows, AGVs will surely become a key player in the process of fully automating port operations. 

The success of Qingdao’s fully automated port serves as a model for the future of logistics. Technology has the potential to elevate day-to-day operations, and continues to foster innovative solutions for issues impacting the supply chain. 

References:

http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/commerce/CHN_Port_of_Qingdao_408.php

http://bofcom.qingdao.gov.cn/n28356062/n32562701/n32562706/180619143311075108.html

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/26/WS612757c1a310efa1bd66b62a.html

http://subsites.chinadaily.com.cn/ensd-port/2021-08/26/c_654796.htm

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/asia_enters_fully_automated_terminal_era/

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d637a4e31677a4d/share_p.html

https://www.radwin.com/blog/smart-port/enabling-a-smart-fully-automated-port/

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/automated-guided-vehicle-market