A system for providing logistic process optimization of ports and ships with digital twin interaction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) which enables to determine an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility's cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship's cargo status.

Description

[0001] A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING LOGISTIC PROCESS OPTIMIZATION OF PORTS AND SHIPS WITH DIGITAL TWIN INTERACTION

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a system which enables to determine an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship’s cargo status.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] It is known fact that ninety percent of the world’s transportation is carried out by sea. This situation makes it difficult to operate ports and optimize processes and it leads to time losses. These time losses, which increase the cost and consumption of resources, negatively affect both the sea and land legs of this logistics process. On the other hand, we know that newly developed digital twin technologies are used to model, manage and predict such multidimensional and complex processes. However, since these applications are still new, they are not actively used in all sectors.

[0006] Therefore, considering the studies and shortcomings included in the current technique, it is understood that there is need for a system which enables to determine an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship’s cargo status. The Korean patent document no. KR20210116799, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a control system for ship entry and departure. The invention subject to the said Korean patent document describes a ship entry and departure control system which uses a digital twin and uses GPS information, pose information, shape information for safe ship navigation regardless of the size of the ship at the time of entry and departure of the ship. It includes an electronic navigation chart of the ship in real time to simulate a 3D image of the ship corresponding to the current position and pose of the ship in order to synthesize and display a motion path optimized to the electronic navigation map.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] An objective of the present invention is to realize a system which is developed for determining an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship’s cargo status.

[0009] An objective of the present invention is to realize a system which is developed for relieving logistics processes from predictions based on the timing of vehicles, providing separate forecasts for each transport unit and then customizing the estimated times to the institutions, and relieving the procedural and operational processes of port enterprises.

[0010] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0011] “A System for Providing Logistic Process Optimization of Ports and Ships with Digital Twin Interaction” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the inventive system.

[0012] The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0013] 1. System

[0014] 2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

[0015] 3. Database

[0016] 4. Application

[0017] 5. Server

[0018] The inventive system (1) which is developed for determining an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship’s cargo status; comprises at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to include UV and thermal cameras thereon; at least one database (3) which is configured to keep record of data received from ship sensors, data from received maritime radar systems, data received from UAV sensors, data received from port control computers, data received from land transportation elements, weather data, data received from cameras and sensors in port berthing areas, data received from construction machinery and cranes involved in loading and unloading processes; at least one application (4) which is configured to ensure that notifications about when cargo unloaded from the port can be picked up can be transmitted to the related logistics companies; at least one server (5) which is configured to predict the interaction of the digital twin of the docking ship with the changes in the order in which the port is currently operating in order to be considered as a port and ship asset twin; to ensure that ships approaching the port are scanned according to the time interval determined by the port control; to make a mapping of the ship’ cargoes; to create a ranking based on the principle that the most cargo reaches the storage area per unit time, by taking into account the cargo characteristics of the ships and the time they will spend in the port in order to support them in determining the order of entry into the port; and to send notifications to the related logistics companies about when the cargo can be picked up.

[0019] The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to scan ships approaching the port according to certain time intervals. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to perform a mapping of the cargo of the ships. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to transmit information about the containers and their cargo to the server (5) during the ship scanning. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to obtain information that is part of procedural processes at the port such as the position of the container on the ship, the physical condition of the container, the condition of the products inside the container, the temperature inside the container for each container and to transmit to the server (5). The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to include sensors for collecting information that varies according to the state of the products or cargo. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to enable the location of the container on the ship to be written on a tag. The unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is configured to ensure the variation of the temporal interval by being sent to a desired distance. The database (3) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol.

[0020] The application (4) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol. The application (4) is configured to transmit notifications to the related logistics companies about when the cargoes unloaded from the port can be picked up via an interface.

[0021] The server (5) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle (2), the database (3) and the application (4) by any communication protocol. The server (5) is configured to create an environmental digital twin of the logistics environment and one or more physical asset digital twins of the physical assets. The server (5) is configured to collect data received from the sensors of ships, information received from maritime radar systems, data received from UAV (2) sensors, data received from the port control computer, information received from land transportation elements, weather data, data received from cameras and sensors located in port docking areas, data received from construction machinery and cranes involved in loading and unloading processes from related sources and then to keep record of them in the database (3). The server (5) is configured to support the port control officers in determining the order whereby the ships will enter the port; to create a ranking based on the principle that the most cargo reaches the storage area per unit time by taking into account the load characteristics of the ships and the time they will spend in the port; and to provide a suggestion that can sort the ships determined by the port control so that the ships will wait in the least queue. The server (5) is configured to optimize the port entry sequence of ships. The server (5) is configured to prepare a queue of ships for fast unloading of large or dangerous cargoes, such that these ships wait in the least queue. The server (5) is configured to use an artificial intelligence model in order to calculate the location of the cargo in a storage area, the time it takes to reach that location and the time it takes to load the cargo from that location. The server (5) is configured to provide information to the related units via the application (4) about the exact time when the loading vehicle should be at the port. The server (5) is configured to also provide information to the related departments, via the application (4), about the status of the container wherein the goods are contained. The server (5) is configured to receive the data recorded in the database (3) in order to predict the problems that will arise in the process and the problems that will arise in the use of port vehicles. The server (5) is configured to determine how the process will be affected according to the types of problems to be experienced and to communicate them to the related units via the application (4). The server (5) is configured to calculate how long it will take for the unloaded cargo to reach the storage area, and to transmit this to the related units via the application (4). The server (5) is configured to calculate an estimated time of arrival and delivery for each container, and and to transmit it to the related units via the application (4). The server (5) is configured to make estimates of the time of pick-up from the warehouse area for road logistics and transmit them to the related units via the application (4). The server (5) is configured to identify the ships requiring sorting priority or cargoes that are about to be damaged. The server (5) is configured to prioritize the cargoes that are likely to be damaged. The server (5) is configured to predict what the situation in the port will be when the ship arrives at the port, having received the digital twin before the ship docks.

[0022] Industrial Applicability of the Invention

[0023] With the inventive system (1), it is possible to determine an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ships’s cargo status. Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “System (1) System for Providing Logistic Process Optimization of Ports and Ships with Digital Twin Interaction”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (1) which is developed for determining an estimated time of transfer to a second logistic element for each type or unit of cargo, by interactively evaluating a digital twin of a port facility’s cargo unloading schedule with a digital twin of an approaching ship’s cargo status; comprising at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to include UV and thermal cameras thereon; and characterized by at least one database (3) which is configured to keep record of data received from ship sensors, data from received maritime radar systems, data received from UAV sensors, data received from port control computers, data received from land transportation elements, weather data, data received from cameras and sensors in port berthing areas, data received from construction machinery and cranes involved in loading and unloading processes; at least one application (4) which is configured to ensure that notifications about when cargo unloaded from the port can be picked up can be transmitted to the related logistics companies; at least one server (5) which is configured to predict the interaction of the digital twin of the docking ship with the changes in the order in which the port is currently operating in order to be considered as a port and ship asset twin; to ensure that ships approaching the port are scanned according to the time interval determined by the port control; to make a mapping of the ship’ cargoes; to create a ranking based on the principle that the most cargo reaches the storage area per unit time, by taking into account the cargo characteristics of the ships and the time they will spend in the port in order to support them in determining theorder of entry into the port; and to send notifications to the related logistics companies about when the cargo can be picked up.

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol.

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to scan ships approaching the port according to certain time intervals.

4. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to perform a mapping of the cargo of the ships.

5. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to transmit information about the containers and their cargo to the server (5) during the ship scanning.

6. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to obtain information that is part of procedural processes at the port such as the position of the container on the ship, the physical condition of the container, the condition of the products inside the container, the temperature inside the container for each container and to transmit to the server (5).

7. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to include sensors for collecting information that varies according to the state of the products or cargo.

8. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to enable the location of the container on the ship to be written on a tag.

9. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) which is configured to ensure the variation of the temporal interval by being sent to a desired distance.

10. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the database (3) which is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol.

11. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the application (4) which is configured to establish communication with the server (5) by any communication protocol.

12. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the application (4) which is configured to transmit notifications to the related logistics companies about when the cargoes unloaded from the port can be picked up via an interface.

13. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to establish communication with the unmannedaerial vehicle (2), the database (3) and the application (4) by any communication protocol.

14. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to create an environmental digital twin of the logistics environment and one or more physical asset digital twins of the physical assets.

15. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to collect data received from the sensors of ships, information received from maritime radar systems, data received from UAV (2) sensors, data received from the port control computer, information received from land transportation elements, weather data, data received from cameras and sensors located in port docking areas, data received from construction machinery and cranes involved in loading and unloading processes from related sources and then to keep record of them in the database (3).

16. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to support the port control officers in determining the order whereby the ships will enter the port; to create a ranking based on the principle that the most cargo reaches the storage area per unit time by taking into account the load characteristics of the ships and the time they will spend in the port; and to provide a suggestion that can sort the ships determined by the port control so that the ships will wait in the least queue.

17. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to optimize the port entry sequence of ships.

18. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to prepare a queue of ships for fast unloading of large or dangerous cargoes, such that these ships wait in the least queue.

19. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to use an artificial intelligence model in order to calculate the location of the cargo in a storage area, the time it takes to reach that location and the time it takes to load the cargo from that location.

20. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to provide information to the related units via the application (4) about the exact time when the loading vehicle should be at the port.

21. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to also provide information to the related departments, via the application (4), about the status of the container wherein the goods are contained.

22. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to receive the data recorded in the database (3) in order to predict the problems that will arise in the process and the problems that will arise in the use of port vehicles.

23. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to determine how the process will be affected according to the types of problems to be experienced and to communicate them to the related units via the application (4).

24. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) server (5) which is configured to calculate how long it will take for the unloaded cargo to reach the storage area, and to transmit this to the related units via the application (4).

25. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to calculate an estimated time of arrival and delivery for each container, and and to transmit it to the related units via the application (4).

26. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to make estimates of the time of pick-up from the warehouse area for road logistics and transmit them to the related units via the application (4).

27. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to identify the ships requiring sorting priority or cargoes that are about to be damaged.

28. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to prioritize the cargoes that are likely to be damaged.

29. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the server (5) which is configured to predict what the situation in the port will be when the ship arrives at the port, having received the digital twin before the ship docks.

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