Automatic horizontal transportation robot direct lifting cold box dispatching and reloading operation method and system and computer program product

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of automatic container wharf operation optimization, and particularly relates to an automatic horizontal transportation robot direct lifting cold box dispatching reloading operation method and system and a computer program product. According to the method, site resources are utilized, after an ART is allowed to unload a ship from the shore, a cold box is directly reloaded to an outer container truck through a rail bridge, and a traffic route under a traditional shore bridge does not need to be passed. Therefore, traffic congestion is reduced, use of yard bridge resources is optimized, suitcase lifting and operation time is shortened, the operation process is simplified through non-landing operation, and the operation speed is increased. As a result, the waiting time of land transportation customers is shortened, and the customer satisfaction and the port operation benefits are improved. The method is suitable for various similar wharfs and has good popularization value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of automated container terminal operation optimization, and specifically relates to an automated horizontal transport robot direct-lifting refrigerated container scheduling and reloading operation method, system and computer program product. Background Art

[0002] In modern container terminal operations, efficient container transshipment is a key factor in enhancing a port's core competitiveness. With the continued growth of global trade, ports, as logistics hubs, have a direct impact on the overall flow of the supply chain through their operational efficiency.

[0003] Traditional container loading and unloading operations typically involve multiple steps, including unloading via quay cranes, horizontal transport within the yard, temporary storage, secondary handling, and final transshipment by land or sea. This multi-step process not only prolongs overall operation time but also easily creates bottlenecks during peak hours. The area under the quay cranes, due to the concentration of container trucks and on-yard transport equipment, often experiences severe traffic congestion, resulting in reduced equipment turnover efficiency and frequent operational delays.

[0004] The drawbacks of traditional processes are even more pronounced for specialized cargo containers like reefer containers. Reefer containers must maintain a specific low temperature environment to preserve the quality of perishable goods, and their transshipment efficiency is directly linked to the freshness and value preservation of the goods. However, the current operating model, with its multiple transshipments, storage, and waiting stages, not only increases the risk of reefer containers escaping cold chain control, but also increases wait times for land transport customers due to the cumbersome process, leading to lower customer satisfaction and increasing port operating costs (such as idle equipment costs and labor costs).

[0005] Therefore, the existing technology lacks a solution that can optimize the refrigerated container transshipment process, reduce intermediate links, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve equipment utilization. It is difficult to meet the port's needs for efficient operations, cost control and high-quality customer service. An improved system and method are urgently needed to break through the above bottlenecks. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method, system and computer program product for scheduling and reloading operations of a direct-lifting refrigerated box by an automated horizontal transport robot to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a method for dispatching and reloading refrigerated containers using an automated horizontal transport robot (ART), comprising the following steps: S1. Direct pick-up customers make appointments and pick up their boxes on site: S11. The direct pickup party should check the estimated time for direct pickup in advance and make reservations based on the container type (cold and standard) and size. S12: Send the target location of the direct pickup refrigerated container to the driver; S13. The driver navigates to the designated bay according to the instructions on the electronic receipt; S14, ART and external container trucks arrive on the inner and outer truck lanes respectively. The rail bridge automatically grabs the direct-lift refrigerated container from the inner truck lane and places it on the external container truck. S15, the external container truck exits the gate normally; S2. Automated horizontal transport robots (ART) unload and transport direct pickup refrigerated containers to designated direct pickup locations: S21, the automated horizontal transport robot (ART) moves to the shore to load and unload the imported containers; S22. Synchronize the operation data to the terminal task management system in real time. If the imported container is a refrigerated container, determine whether it is destined for the refrigerated container direct pick-up site. S23. If it is determined to be a direct pick-up refrigerated container, ART will go directly to the corresponding direct pick-up site. If it is determined to be a non-direct pick-up refrigerated container, ART will go directly to the corresponding refrigerated container site to place the container. S24, ART and external container trucks arrive on the inner and outer truck lanes respectively. The rail bridge automatically grabs the direct-lift refrigerated container from the inner truck lane and places it on the external container truck. S25. The external container truck exits the gate normally.

[0008] Preferably, the ART's operating path and speed are optimized by the system to adapt to different operational requirements (including refrigerated container transshipment of different box types and sizes) and on-site traffic, equipment distribution and other conditions.

[0009] Preferably, the collaborative operations between the rail bridge and ART and external container trucks are centrally scheduled and managed by the terminal task management system, ensuring the efficiency and safety of the operations through real-time data interaction, including avoiding equipment collisions and precise alignment.

[0010] The present invention also discloses a port horizontal transportation system, comprising facilities for implementing the automated horizontal transportation robot (ART) direct pick-up and refrigerated container scheduling and reloading operation method described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the facilities include an automated horizontal transportation robot (ART), a rail bridge, internal and external truck lanes, a terminal task management system, and related equipment for vehicle navigation.

[0011] Preferably, it also includes a monitoring system, which is used to collect real-time operating status data (such as position, running speed, operating progress, etc.) of ART, track bridge, and external container trucks, and perform data analysis to optimize operating efficiency and resource (including equipment and site) configuration.

[0012] The present invention also discloses a computer program product comprising a program code for executing the method. The program code can control the operation of an automated horizontal transport robot (ART), a rail bridge, a monitoring system, and a terminal task management system in a port logistics system, thereby realizing intelligent scheduling and reloading operations for direct-to-refrigerated containers.

[0013] Compared with the methods in the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention uses an automated horizontal transport robot (ART) to unload the refrigerated container from the ship at the shore and directly transfer it to the external container truck via the rail bridge in a seamless transfer mode. This effectively avoids traffic congestion under the quay crane and optimizes the utilization efficiency of the yard crane resources. At the same time, it simplifies the operation process with non-landing operations, significantly shortens the container collection and operation time, balances the conflicts between sea and land transportation operations, and improves overall operation efficiency.

[0014] This solution not only reduces the waiting time for land transportation customers and improves customer satisfaction, but also directly improves the port's operating efficiency and competitiveness by optimizing site resource utilization, reducing equipment idle time and labor costs. It is applicable to all types of similar terminals and has broad promotion value. It can bring a new efficient and economical operation model to the port logistics field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the process of making reservations and picking up boxes on site for direct pickup customers; Figure 2 is a flowchart of the automated horizontal transport robot (ART) loading and unloading direct pickup refrigerated containers and transporting them to the designated direct pickup site; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the location distribution of ART and external container trucks in the operation area; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the lane layout of the work area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0017] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second" and the like are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined as "first", "second" and the like may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0018] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connected," "fixedly connected," and "fixed connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0019] The specific implementation of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0020] An automated horizontal transport robot (ART) direct pick-up refrigerated container dispatching and reloading operation method includes the following steps: 1. Direct pick-up customer appointment and on-site container collection process, such as Figure 1 As shown, Reservation and Information Inquiry (S11) Direct shippers can use the port's online service platform or terminal system to check the expected time of arrival, container type (refrigerated / conventional), and dimensions (e.g., 20-foot, 40-foot) of the target direct ship reefer container. They can then submit a direct ship reefer reservation application based on their actual needs. The system automatically verifies the reefer container's status (e.g., whether it has been unloaded and whether temperature control parameters meet requirements) and site resources (e.g., bay availability at the direct ship reefer container site). Upon verification, a reservation record is generated.

[0021] Site guidance and navigation (S12-S13) Based on reservation information and real-time site dispatch data, the system automatically assigns a target bay for direct pickup of refrigerated containers and pushes the specific location, approach route, and electronic receipt (including unique identification information) to the driver's mobile device. Using the device's built-in navigation function, the driver follows the instructions on the electronic receipt to accurately navigate to the designated bay and wait in the truck lane.

[0022] Collaborative reloading operation (S14) Following instructions from the terminal's task management system, an automated horizontal transport robot (ART) transfers the refrigerated container to be picked up directly to the corresponding position on the inner truck lane, aligning it with the outer truck's inner and outer lanes. At this point, the rail bridge, under system scheduling, activates its operation. Using sensors, it locates the refrigerated container carried by the ART on the inner truck lane, accurately grasps it, and then moves it horizontally to the outer truck lane, where it is stably placed in the designated loading position on the outer truck, completing a seamless transfer. (As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the zoning layout of the inner and outer truck lanes provides spatial support for the rail bridge operation.)

[0023] Departure confirmation (S15) After the transshipment is completed, the truck driver submits an exit application through the mobile terminal. After the system verifies the consistency between the electronic receipt information and the refrigerated container transfer record, the gate is automatically opened and the truck leaves the port along the designated route.

[0024] 2. ART loading and unloading of direct cold box and transshipment process, such as Figure 2 As shown, Ship unloading and data synchronization (S21-S22) Following pre-set dispatch instructions, the ART navigates to the shoreside operation area and collaborates with the quay crane to unload the imported refrigerated container. During this operation, the ART uses the IoT module to synchronize the container's ID, real-time temperature, and current location with the terminal's task management system. The system then automatically links the container's order information to determine whether it is a direct pickup container.

[0025] Route selection and transfer (S23) If the system determines that the refrigerated container is a direct pickup refrigerated container, it will immediately plan the optimal route based on real-time traffic conditions (such as congestion under the quay crane and the operating routes of other equipment). The ART will drive directly to the internal container truck lane of the direct pickup site along this route. If it is determined that the refrigerated container is not a direct pickup refrigerated container, the ART will drive to the dedicated refrigerated container storage area and the yard crane will complete the landing storage.

[0026] Automated changeover and departure (S24-S25) Upon arrival at the inbound truck lane, the ART completes a system-based alignment with the outbound truck already parked on the outbound truck lane (with the error kept within a preset range). Following system instructions, the track bridge grabs the refrigerated container from the ART and precisely places it on the outbound truck (see Figure 3 for equipment layout, ensuring operational safety). This entire process requires no human intervention. After the transfer is complete, the outbound truck passes through the gate for verification and then departs.

[0027] 3. ART Path and Speed ​​Optimization The running path and speed of ART are dynamically optimized by the Docker task management system: Based on different operational requirements (such as cold box size and temperature control priority), the system matches ART with dedicated lanes (such as extra-wide cold boxes adapted to wide lanes); Adjust the speed based on on-site conditions (such as equipment density and weather conditions), travel at a higher speed in open areas, and automatically slow down when approaching the track bridge operation area or other equipment to ensure operational safety.

[0028] 4. Equipment Collaboration and System Scheduling The coordinated work of the rail bridge and ART is centrally scheduled by the terminal task management system: The system uses timing control to ensure that ART and external container trucks arrive synchronously within the operating range of the track bridge to avoid waiting; During the operation, the system monitors the equipment status (such as the lifting parameters of the rail bridge and the ART positioning accuracy) in real time. If any abnormality occurs, it will immediately trigger shutdown protection to ensure operation safety.

[0029] The implementation facilities of this invention include the ART, a rail bridge, internal and external truck lanes (as shown in the lane layout in Figure 4 ), a terminal task management system, and a monitoring system. The monitoring system uses cameras and sensors to collect real-time operational data (such as equipment operation trajectory and cold box temperature changes). After data analysis, it feeds back to the dispatching system, which optimizes resource allocation, including equipment scheduling and site allocation, to improve overall operational efficiency.

[0030] The computer program product that controls the above process includes program code and can be deployed on the port server to implement the following functions: Receive direct pick-up appointment information and generate work plans; Plan routes for ART and control its speed; Coordinate the timing of track bridge and ART operations to complete cold box replacement; Connect to the monitoring system to realize real-time processing and feedback of operation data.

[0031] Through the above-mentioned implementation mode, the present invention realizes the non-drop transfer of refrigerated containers from ships to external container trucks, simplifies the operation process, and effectively improves the port's shipping and land transportation efficiency and customer service quality.

[0032] It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for dispatching and reloading refrigerated boxes by an automated horizontal transport robot, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Direct pick-up customers make appointments and pick up their boxes on site: S11. The direct pickup party checks the estimated time for direct pickup of the container in advance and makes a direct pickup reservation based on the container type and size. S12: Send the target location of the direct pickup refrigerated container to the driver; S13. The driver navigates to the designated bay according to the instructions on the electronic receipt; S14, ART and external container trucks arrive on the inner and outer truck lanes respectively. The rail bridge automatically grabs the direct-lift refrigerated container from the inner truck lane and places it on the external container truck. S15, the external container truck exits the gate normally; S2. Automated horizontal transport robots (ART) unload and transport direct pickup refrigerated containers to designated direct pickup locations: S21, the automated horizontal transport robot (ART) moves to the shore to load and unload the imported containers; S22. Synchronize the operation data to the terminal task management system in real time. If the imported container is a refrigerated container, determine whether it is destined for the refrigerated container direct pick-up site. S23. If it is determined to be a direct pick-up refrigerated container, ART will go directly to the corresponding direct pick-up site. If it is determined to be a non-direct pick-up refrigerated container, ART will go directly to the corresponding refrigerated container site to place the container. S24, ART and external container trucks arrive on the inner and outer truck lanes respectively. The rail bridge automatically grabs the direct-lift refrigerated container from the inner truck lane and places it on the external container truck. S25. The external container truck exits the gate normally.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The ART's operating path and speed are optimized through the system to adapt to different operational requirements and on-site traffic and equipment distribution conditions.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The coordinated operations between the rail bridge, ART, and external container trucks are centrally scheduled and managed by the terminal task management system, which ensures the efficiency and safety of operations through real-time data interaction, including avoiding equipment collisions and precise alignment.

4. A port horizontal transportation system, characterized in that: The invention comprises facilities for implementing the method for dispatching and reloading refrigerated containers directly by an automated horizontal transport robot (ART) as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the facilities include an automated horizontal transport robot (ART), a rail bridge, internal and external truck lanes, a terminal task management system, and related equipment for vehicle navigation.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that It also includes a monitoring system that is used to collect real-time operating status data of ART, track bridges, and external container trucks, and perform data analysis to optimize operating efficiency and resource allocation.

6. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises a program code for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the program code can control the operation of an automated horizontal transport robot (ART), a rail bridge, a monitoring system, and a terminal task management system in a port logistics system to realize intelligent scheduling and reloading operations of direct-to-refrigerated containers.

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