Core logistics facility

Abstract

To provide a core logistics facility with a structure suitable for a hub for main route transportation.SOLUTION: A core logistics facility includes an exclusive rampway directly connected to an expressway or an expressway interchange, a mobility pool function connected to the exclusive rampway and used as a temporary pool for main route trucks, and a cross-dock function including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of cargo between main route trucks and regional delivery trucks.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to core logistics facilities used by trucks that handle trunk line transportation. [Background technology]

[0002] Various efforts are being made to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving for large trucks (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). According to Non-Patent Document 1, the Level 4 autonomous driving section is envisioned as the section from entering an expressway interchange to exiting the interchange. If in the future it becomes possible to connect logistics facilities directly connected to expressway interchanges or connected by limited public roads using Level 4 autonomous driving, it is expected that the efficiency of logistics will improve dramatically. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, "RoAD to the L4 Autonomous Driving Level 4 and Other Advanced Mobility Services Research, Development and Social Implementation Project," [online], Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, [Retrieved March 14, 2024], Internet〈 URL: https: / / www.road-to-the-l4.go.jp / 〉 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Until now, there has been no knowledge about what requirements a logistics facility connected to an expressway and serving as a hub for trunk line transportation (hereinafter referred to as a core logistics facility) should meet. Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a core logistics facility with a structure suitable for serving as a hub for trunk line transportation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The core logistics facility disclosed herein includes a dedicated rampway directly connected to a highway or highway interchange, a mobility pool function connected to the dedicated rampway and used as a temporary pool for trunk transport trucks that are trucks responsible for trunk transport, and a cross-dock function including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of cargo between trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The core logistics facility of the present disclosure has a structure suitable for use as a hub for trunk line transportation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a core logistics facility of Example 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the mobility pool floor of the core logistics facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Schematic plan view of the mobility pool floor of the core logistics facility of variant example 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a cross-dock floor of the core logistics facility of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic plan view of a tenant floor of a core logistics facility of Example 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Note that components having the same functions are assigned the same numbers, and redundant explanations will be omitted. [Example]

[0009] <Functions that core logistics facilities should have> Below, we will explain the three functions of core logistics facilities.

[0010] ≪1. Mobility pool function: Ability to accommodate various types of trunk line trucks≫ Possible trunk line trucks include fully unmanned autonomous trucks, autonomous trucks that travel in a convoy with no following vehicles (with a manned truck at the front), articulated trucks (manned trucks), etc. Core logistics facilities must meet the requirements to allow the use of all of these various types of trunk line trucks.

[0011] ≪2. Cross-dock function: Switching between trunk line transport and local delivery≫ Core logistics facilities must have the ability to switch between trunk line transport and local delivery. Specifically, they must have the ability to transfer cargo carried by trunk line transport trucks onto local delivery trucks. In addition, they must also have the ability to transfer cargo collected by local delivery trucks onto trunk line trucks. Core logistics facilities must meet the requirements to fulfill this function.

[0012] ≪3. Function as a logistics warehouse for multiple tenants: Tenant function≫ A core logistics facility may function as a logistics warehouse for multiple tenants. To fulfill this function, the facility must meet certain requirements.

[0013] The following describes the schematic structure of a core logistics facility of Example 1 with reference to FIG. 1. In this example, the three functions described above are assumed to be located on different floors. The core logistics facility of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and two or more of the functions may be located on the same floor. As shown in the figure, the core logistics facility 1 of this example includes a dedicated ramp way 11 directly connected to a highway or highway interchange, a mobility pool floor 12 connected to the dedicated ramp way 11 and used as a temporary pool for trunk transport trucks, a cross-dock floor 13 including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of cargo between trunk transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, and a tenant floor 14 including a tenant company warehouse.

[0014] As mentioned above, the mobility pool floor 12 is used as a temporary pool for mainline transport trucks. For example, the mobility pool floor 12 can be used for simple parking and stopping, as well as for uncoupling (coupling formation) of articulated trucks, breaking up the platoon of trucks traveling in a following convoy (platoon formation), switching between unmanned and manned operation, and for swap body operations, which will be described later.

[0015] In some cases, the cross dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 are connected to the mobility pool floor 12, but in other cases, they are connected to an internal rampway (not shown) and an internal driveway (not shown) that allow vehicles to travel between each floor and the dedicated rampway 11.

[0016] The following describes the schematic structure of the mobility pool floor 12 of the core logistics facility 1 of this embodiment with reference to Figure 2. The mobility pool floor 12 is a floor provided to realize <<1. Ability to accommodate trunk transport trucks of various specifications>>. In this embodiment, the mobility pool floor 12 is provided on the rooftop floor, but this is not limited to this, and the mobility pool floor 12 may be provided on M floors above ground (M is a positive integer) other than the rooftop, M floors underground, or on the ground floor outside the building.

[0017] As shown in the figure, the mobility pool floor 12 includes a platoon / uncoupling space 121 used to disengage a platoon of unmanned following vehicles or to uncouple articulated trucks, a platoon / coupling formation space 122 used to form a platoon of unmanned following vehicles or to couple and form articulated trucks, a lane 123 exclusively for autonomous vehicles, a lane 124 exclusively for general trucks and general vehicles, and a general parking lot 125.

[0018] The mobility pool floor 12 may also include a swap body space for performing the operation of detaching a cargo bed (swap body) connected to a fully unmanned, autonomously driven truck head from the autonomously driven truck head and replacing it with a manned truck head, and for performing the operation of replacing a fully unmanned, autonomously driven cargo bed connected to a manned truck head with an autonomously driven truck head.

[0019] It is also preferable to include, for example, a platooning / uncoupling space 121 including a platooning uncoupling area 1211 where information communication is carried out with trucks for uncoupling, and a uncoupling area 1212 where workers perform work on trucks for uncoupling.

[0020] It is also preferable to include, for example, a platoon / connection formation space 122 in which information communication with trucks for platoon formation is carried out, and a connection formation area 1222 in which workers perform work on trucks for connection formation.

[0021] In this way, if formation dissolution is carried out in formation dissolution area 1211, formation of formation is carried out in formation formation area 1221, dissolution of articulated trucks is carried out in formation dissolution area 1212, and formation of articulated trucks is carried out in formation formation area 1222, the areas in which workers move can be limited, making it less likely that overlaps will occur within each space and allowing work to be carried out efficiently, which is preferable.

[0022] [Variation 1] Referring to Figure 3 below, we will explain a mobility pool floor of Modified Example 1, which further improves efficiency by consolidating the areas where workers work on trucks and making it less likely for them to overlap with other areas. As shown in the figure, the mobility pool floor 12A of Modified Example 1 includes a platooning release area 1211, a coupling release area 1212, a platooning formation area 1221, and a coupling formation area 1222, as described above, with the coupling release area 1212 and the coupling formation area 1222 being arranged next to each other. This is to consolidate the areas where workers work.

[0023] For example, it would be even more preferable to provide an elevator 126 that directly connects these two areas (unconnected area 1212 + connected area 1222) for workers to use to ascend and descend, as this would allow workers to access the two areas directly from other floors.

[0024] When moving from the elevator 126 to two areas (uncoupling area 1212 + coupling formation area 1222), if it is necessary to cross the lane 123 reserved for self-driving vehicles and the lane 124 reserved for general trucks and general vehicles, for example, providing an overpass 127 that crosses the vehicle-only lanes such as 123 and 124 is advantageous from the standpoint of both worker safety and the efficiency of trucks traveling on the lanes.

[0025] It is even more preferable to provide a head-only lane 128, through which only the track heads can pass, connecting the disconnection area 1212 and the connection formation area 1222. This is for the following reason.

[0026] First, in the uncoupling area 1212, the coupled trucks are uncoupled. As shown in the figure, the head 7 at the front of the coupled truck and the loading platform directly coupled to this head 7 can travel within the core logistics facility either with a driver in the head 7 or by using the head 7's automatic driving function. On the other hand, for example, the loading platform 8, which is not directly coupled to the head 7 at the front of the coupled truck, cannot travel autonomously within the core logistics facility and must be coupled to another truck head. Therefore, there is always a shortage of truck heads in the uncoupling area 1212.

[0027] Meanwhile, the coupling of the coupled trucks is carried out in the coupling formation area 1222. As shown in the figure, each truck that has traveled within the core logistics facility and returned to the coupling formation area 1222 has a track head attached, but for trucks other than the lead truck, the heads must be removed when the coupling is formed.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the trucks other than the leading truck have their truck heads 9 removed, leaving only the loading platform, and are coupled as loading platforms behind the second truck after the leading truck. In other words, there is always an excess of truck heads in the coupled formation area 1222.

[0029] Therefore, by providing a head-only lane 128 that only truck heads can pass through, connecting the disconnection area 1212 and the connection formation area 1222, truck heads that are in excess in the connection formation area 1222 can be made to run to the disconnection area 1212, where there is a shortage of truck heads, thereby enabling a rapid supply of truck heads, which is advantageous from the perspective of work efficiency.

[0030] Next, the schematic structure of the cross-dock floor 13 of the core logistics facility 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4. The cross-dock floor 13 is a floor provided to realize <<2. Function of switching between trunk line transportation and local delivery>>. In this embodiment, the cross-dock floor 13 is provided on a mid-rise floor, but this is not limited thereto, and the cross-dock floor 13 may be provided on the rooftop floor, M floors above ground, or M floors below ground. It is preferable that the cross-dock floor 13 be connected to an internal rampway and internal vehicle lane that allow vehicles to travel to and from each floor connected to the mobility pool floor 12 (12A) or the dedicated rampway 11.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the cross dock floor 13 includes a roadway 131 that crosses the cross dock floor 13, a berth 132 adjacent to the roadway 131 where trucks can be parked, and a warehouse 133 facing the roadway via the berth 132.

[0032] The warehouse 133 functions as a temporary warehouse used for the delivery of goods between main transport trucks and local delivery trucks, and is usually distinguished from warehouses managed by tenants.

[0033] Next, the schematic structure of the tenant floor 14 of the core logistics facility 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5. The tenant floor 14 is a floor provided to realize <<3. Function as a logistics warehouse for multiple tenants>>. In this embodiment, the tenant floor 14 is provided on a mid-rise floor, but this is not limited to this, and the tenant floor 14 may be provided on the rooftop floor, M floors above ground, or M floors underground. It is preferable that the tenant floor 14 is connected to an internal rampway and internal vehicle lane that allow vehicles to travel to and from each floor leading to the mobility pool floor 12 (12A) or the dedicated rampway 11.

[0034] As shown in the figure, the tenant floor 14 includes a roadway 141 that crosses the tenant floor 14, a berth 142 adjacent to the roadway 141 where trucks are parked, and a warehouse 143 that faces the roadway via the berth 142. Note that in this embodiment, both the cross dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 have been described as having a central roadway, but this is not limited to this, and the cross dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 may also have roadways on both sides.

[0035] Warehouse 143 is a warehouse managed by a tenant, and has the function of receiving cargo from a trunk transport truck and handing it over to the next trunk transport truck or a regional delivery truck, and the function of receiving cargo from a regional delivery truck and handing it over to a trunk transport truck. The interior of warehouse 143 is optimized for each tenant according to the warehouse management method of each tenant.

Claims

1. A dedicated rampway directly connected to the expressway or the expressway interchange, A mobility pool function that is connected to the dedicated ramp way and is used as a temporary pool for trunk transport trucks that are trucks that handle trunk transport; A cross-dock function including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of cargo between the trunk transport truck and the regional delivery truck is included. Core logistics facility.

2. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The mobility pool function a mobility pool floor, which is one floor of the core logistics facility; The cross-dock function includes: This is a cross-dock floor, which is one floor of the core logistics facility. Core logistics facility.

3. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, Includes tenant functions, including tenant company warehouses Core logistics facility.

4. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, The mobility pool function A platoon / uncoupled space used to uncouple unmanned truck platoons or uncouple connected trucks; This includes platoon / consolidation space used for platooning with unmanned following vehicles or for consolidating articulated trucks. Core logistics facility.

5. The core logistics facility according to claim 4, This includes a swap body space used to switch between the loading platform of a fully unmanned autonomous truck and a manned truck that travels on the dedicated rampway and limited public roads. Core logistics facility.

6. The core logistics facility according to claim 4, The formation / uncoupling space is: a platooning cancellation area for performing information communication with the trucks for platoon cancellation; a decoupling area where workers perform work on the truck for decoupling; The formation / connection formation space is: a platoon formation area for performing information communication with trucks for platoon formation; Includes a coupling formation area where workers carry out work on trucks for coupling formation. Core logistics facility.

7. The core logistics facility according to claim 6, The disconnection area and the connection formation area are arranged adjacent to each other. Core logistics facility.

8. The core logistics facility according to claim 7, An elevator is provided that is directly connected to the disconnection area and the connection formation area and allows workers to go up and down. Core logistics facility.

9. The core logistics facility according to claim 8, The uncoupling area, the coupling formation area and the elevator are directly connected, and an overpass is provided across the vehicle-only lane. Core logistics facility.

10. The core logistics facility according to claim 7, A head-only lane through which only the truck heads can pass is provided so as to connect the disconnection area and the connection formation area. Core logistics facility.

11. The core logistics facility according to claim 1, Fully unmanned autonomous trucks that travel on the dedicated rampway or limited public roads can travel through the rampway or roadway within the building that allows them to travel to and from each function, and can park and stop at the truck berth of the cross-dock function. Core logistics facility.

12. The core logistics facility according to claim 3, Fully unmanned autonomous trucks that travel on the dedicated rampway or limited public roads can travel through the rampway or roadway within the building that allows them to travel to and from each function, and can park and stop at the truck berth of the tenant function. Core logistics facility.

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