Core logistics facilities

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 a backbone logistics facility used by trucks responsible for trunk transportation.

Background Art

[0002] Towards realizing Level 4 automated driving for large trucks, various efforts have been made (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). According to Non-Patent Document 1, the assumed Level 4 automated driving section is the section from entering a highway interchange to exiting the interchange. If in the future, logistics facilities directly connected to highway interchanges or connected by limited general roads can be connected by Level 4 automated driving, it is expected that the efficiency of logistics will improve remarkably.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, there has been no knowledge about what requirements a logistics facility (hereinafter referred to as a backbone logistics facility) connected to a highway and serving as a node for trunk transportation should meet. Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a backbone logistics facility having a structure suitable for a node of trunk transportation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The core logistics facility of this disclosure 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 line transport trucks that are responsible for trunk line transport, and a cross-docking function including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between trunk line transport trucks and regional delivery trucks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The core logistics facility described herein has a structure suitable for a trunk line transportation hub. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the main logistics facility in Example 1. [Figure 2] A schematic plan view of the mobility pool floor of the main logistics facility in Example 1. [Figure 3] A schematic floor plan of the mobility pool floor of the main logistics facility in Modification Example 1. [Figure 4] A schematic plan view of the cross-dock floor of the main logistics facility in Example 1. [Figure 5] A schematic floor plan of the tenant floor of the main logistics facility in Example 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below. Components having the same function will be numbered the same, and redundant explanations will be omitted. [Examples]

[0009] <Functions that core logistics facilities should possess> The following describes the three functions of a core logistics facility.

[0010] ≪1. Function to accommodate trunk line transport trucks of various specifications: Mobility pool function≫ Possible trunk line transport trucks include fully autonomous trucks, platooning autonomous trucks (with a manned lead truck), and articulated trucks (with manned trucks). For core logistics facilities, it is necessary to meet facility requirements that allow for the use of all these various types of trunk line transport trucks.

[0011] ≪2. Switching function between trunk line transport and regional delivery: Cross-docking function≫ Core logistics facilities must have the functionality to switch between trunk line transport and regional delivery. Specifically, they need the ability to transfer goods delivered by trunk line transport trucks to regional delivery trucks. In addition, they also need the ability to transfer goods collected by regional delivery trucks to trunk line transport trucks. Core logistics facilities must meet the facility requirements to satisfy these functions.

[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 the necessary requirements.

[0013] The schematic structure of the main logistics facility of Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to Figure 1. In this embodiment, the three functions described above are assumed to be located on different floors. The main logistics facility of this 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 main logistics facility 1 of this embodiment includes a dedicated rampway 11 directly connected to a highway or highway interchange, a mobility pool floor 12 connected to the dedicated rampway 11 and used as a temporary pool for trunk line transport trucks, a cross-dock floor 13 including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between trunk line transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, and a tenant floor 14 including a warehouse for a tenant company.

[0014] As described above, the mobility pool floor 12 is used as a temporary pool for main transportation trucks. For example, the mobility pool floor 12 can be used simply for parking, or for disconnecting (forming a connection) of connected trucks, for dequeueing (forming a queue) of following convoy trucks, for switching between driverless and manned driving, and for swap body operations described later.

[0015] The cross-dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 may be connected to the mobility pool floor 12. In addition to this, there are also patterns where they are connected to an indoor rampway (not shown) and an indoor roadway (not shown) that enable vehicles to move to and from each floor leading to the dedicated rampway 11.

[0016] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2, the schematic structure of the mobility pool floor 12 of the backbone logistics facility 1 of this embodiment will be described. The mobility pool floor 12 is a floor provided to realize the function of ≪1. being able to accommodate main transportation trucks of various specifications≫. In this embodiment, the mobility pool floor 12 is provided on the rooftop floor, but it is not limited to this. The mobility pool floor 12 may be provided on the Mth floor above ground (M is a positive integer) other than the rooftop, on the Mth basement floor, or on the site plane outside the building.

[0017] As shown in the figure, the mobility pool floor 12 includes a queue / connection release space 121 used for dequeueing of following driverless convoy trucks or for disconnecting connected trucks, a queue / connection formation space 122 used for forming a queue of following driverless convoy trucks or for forming a connection of connected trucks, a dedicated lane 123 for autonomous vehicles, a dedicated lane 124 for general trucks and general vehicles, a general parking lot 125, etc.

[0018] In addition, the mobility pool floor 12 may include a swap body space for performing an operation of disconnecting a load carrier (swap body) connected to an automated driving truck head of the fully driverless type from the automated driving truck head and attaching it to a manned truck head, and an operation of attaching a load carrier for automated driving of the fully driverless type connected to the manned truck head to the automated driving truck head.

[0019] Further, for example, it is preferable to include a queue release area 1211 for performing information communication with respect to a truck for queue release and a disconnection area 1212 for performing an operation of an operator with respect to a truck for disconnection in the queue / disconnection space 121.

[0020] Further, for example, it is preferable to include a queue formation area 1221 for performing information communication with respect to a truck for queue formation and a connection formation area 1222 for performing an operation of an operator with respect to a truck for connection formation in the queue / connection formation space 122.

[0021] In this way, if queue release is performed in the queue release area 1211, queue formation is performed in the queue formation area 1221, disconnection of connected trucks is performed in the disconnection area 1212, and connection formation of connected trucks is performed in the connection formation area 1222, the area where the operator moves can be limited. Therefore, it is preferable because intersections are less likely to occur within each space and work can be efficiently performed.

[0022] [Modification Example 1] Referring to FIG. 3 below, a mobility pool floor of Modification Example 1 with further improved efficiency will be described, in which the areas where operations of operators on trucks are performed are aggregated to make it less likely to intersect with other areas. As shown in the figure, the mobility pool floor 12A of Modification Example 1 includes a queue release area 1211, a disconnection area 1212, a queue formation area 1221, and a connection formation area 1222 as described above, and the disconnection area 1212 and the connection formation area 1222 are arranged adjacent to each other. This is for aggregating the areas where the operations of the operator are performed.

[0023] For example, if an elevator 126 is provided that is directly connected to these two areas (the unconnecting area 1212 and the connecting area 1222) for workers to ascend and descend, workers can access the two areas directly from other floors, which is even more preferable.

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

[0025] Furthermore, it is even preferable to provide a dedicated lane 128 for truck heads only, connecting the decoupling area 1212 and the coupling formation area 1222. This is for the following reasons.

[0026] First, in the uncoupling area 1212, the coupling of the coupling trucks is uncoupled. As shown in the figure, the head 7 at the front of the coupling truck and the cargo bed directly connected to this head 7 can travel within the main logistics facility either with a driver on the head 7 or with the head 7's autonomous driving function. On the other hand, cargo beds that are not directly connected to the head 7 at the front of the coupling truck, such as the second cargo bed 8 from the front, cannot travel autonomously within the main logistics facility and therefore require coupling with another truck head. Consequently, there is always a shortage of truck heads in the uncoupling area 1212.

[0027] Meanwhile, in the coupling formation area 1222, coupling of trucks takes place. As shown in the figure, each truck that has traveled through the main logistics facility and returned to the coupling formation area 1222 has a truck head attached, but the trucks other than the lead truck need to have their heads removed during coupling formation.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the trucks other than the lead truck have their truckheads 9 removed, leaving only the cargo bed, and are then coupled as cargo beds behind the second truck from the lead truck. In other words, there is always an excess of truckheads in the coupling area 1222.

[0029] Therefore, by providing a dedicated lane 128 for truck heads only, connecting the uncoupling area 1212 and the coupling formation area 1222, it becomes possible to quickly supply truck heads by moving excess truck heads in the coupling formation area 1222 to the uncoupling area 1212 where there is a shortage of truck heads, thus making it preferable from the viewpoint of improving work efficiency.

[0030] Next, with reference to Figure 4, the general structure of the cross-dock floor 13 of the main logistics facility 1 in this embodiment will be described. The cross-dock floor 13 is a floor provided to realize the function of switching between trunk line transport and regional distribution. In this embodiment, the cross-dock floor 13 is provided on a middle floor, but it is not limited to this, and the cross-dock floor 13 may be provided on the rooftop floor, the M floor above ground, or the M floor underground. The cross-dock floor 13 is preferably connected to an in-building rampway and in-building roadway that allows vehicles to move to and from each floor leading 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 driveway 131 that crosses the cross-dock floor 13, a berth 132 adjacent to the driveway 131 for parking trucks, and a warehouse 133 facing the driveway via the berth 132.

[0032] Warehouse 133 functions as a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between mainline transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, and is typically distinguished from warehouses managed by tenants.

[0033] Next, with reference to Figure 5, the general structure of the tenant floor 14 of the main logistics facility 1 in this embodiment will be described. The tenant floor 14 is a floor provided to realize the function of "3. A logistics warehouse for multiple tenants". In this embodiment, the tenant floor 14 is provided on a middle floor, but it is not limited to this, and the tenant floor 14 may be provided on the rooftop floor, the M floor above ground, or the M floor underground. The tenant floor 14 is preferably connected to an in-building rampway and in-building roadway that allows vehicles to move 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 driveway 141 that crosses the tenant floor 14, a berth 142 adjacent to the driveway 141 for parking trucks, and a warehouse 143 facing the driveway via the berth 142. In this embodiment, both the cross-dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 are described using a central driveway configuration as an example, but the invention is not limited to this configuration, and the cross-dock floor 13 and the tenant floor 14 may also be configured with driveways on both sides.

[0035] Warehouse 143 is a tenant-managed warehouse with the functions of receiving goods from trunk transport trucks and handing them over to the next trunk transport truck or regional delivery truck, and receiving goods from regional delivery trucks and handing them over to trunk transport trucks. The interior of Warehouse 143 is optimized for each tenant according to their warehouse management methods.

Claims

1. A dedicated rampway directly connected to an expressway or expressway interchange, Connected to the aforementioned dedicated rampway, it is used as a temporary pool for trunk line transport trucks, which are responsible for trunk line transport, and is a mobility pool floor, which is one of the floors of the main logistics facility. The main logistics facility includes a cross-dock floor, which is one floor of the facility that includes a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between the main transport trucks and the regional delivery trucks. A core logistics facility.

2. The core logistics facility according to Claim 1, The aforementioned mobility pool floor is It is located on the site outside the building. A core logistics facility.

3. A dedicated rampway directly connected to an expressway or expressway interchange, A mobility pool function connected to the aforementioned dedicated rampway, used as a temporary pool for trunk line transport trucks, which are trucks responsible for trunk line transport, Cross-docking facilities including a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between the aforementioned trunk line transport trucks and regional delivery trucks, Includes tenant functions, including the tenant company's warehouse. A core logistics facility.

4. A dedicated rampway directly connected to an expressway or expressway interchange, A mobility pool function connected to the aforementioned dedicated rampway, used as a temporary pool for trunk line transport trucks, which are trucks responsible for trunk line transport, This includes a cross-docking function, which includes a temporary warehouse used for the transfer of goods between the aforementioned mainline transport trucks and regional delivery trucks. The aforementioned mobility pool function is, A platoon / uncoupling space used for uncoupling a platoon of unmanned following vehicles, or for uncoupling articulated trucks, Includes a platoon / coupling formation space used for platooning of unmanned following vehicles or for coupling of articulated trucks, The aforementioned convoy / uncoupling space is A platoon disengagement area for conducting information and communication with trucks to disengage the platoon, Includes a decoupling area where workers perform tasks on the truck to decouple it, The aforementioned queue / connection forming space is A convoy formation area for performing information communication with trucks for convoy formation, Includes a coupling area where workers perform tasks on trucks for coupling formation, The aforementioned disconnection area and the aforementioned connection formation area are located adjacent to each other. A core logistics facility.

5. A core logistics facility according to claim 4, An elevator is provided that is directly connected to the aforementioned decoupling area and the aforementioned decoupling area, for workers to ascend and descend. A core logistics facility.

6. A core logistics facility according to claim 5, The aforementioned decoupling area, the aforementioned coupling formation area, and the elevator are directly connected, and an overpass is provided that crosses the vehicle-only lane. A core logistics facility.

7. A core logistics facility according to claim 4, A dedicated lane for truck heads only is provided to connect the aforementioned decoupling area and the aforementioned decoupling area. A core logistics facility.

8. A core logistics facility according to claim 3, The fully autonomous trucks, which travel on the dedicated rampways or limited public roads, can use the rampways or roadways within the building that allow access to each function, and park at the truck berths of the tenant functions. A core logistics facility.

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