ATR Control Coordination for Congestion-Aware Container Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing comprehensive container terminals have inefficient cooperative operation between shore cranes, ARTs, and yard cranes, leading to suboptimal container handling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent horizontal transportation system comprising autonomous transport robots (ATRs) and an ATR control system that coordinates tasks with terminal management, automated yard cranes, and quay cranes, utilizing modules for task scheduling, dynamic path planning, traffic management, and remote driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional terminal operations are used with shore cranes, ARTs, and yard cranes, then basic container handling is achieved, but cooperative operation efficiency is ordinary and container handling efficiency is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges shore crane, ART, and yard crane operations into a unified automated system where containers are transferred directly from shore crane to yard crane via automated guided vehicles, eliminating intermediate manual handling steps and improving overall container handling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the control system continuously monitors the positions, speeds, and operational states of all equipment, dynamically adjusting task allocation and coordination to optimize container handling efficiency and reduce operation time
2Speed
If automated transport vehicles are introduced to improve efficiency, then container handling speed increases, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated transport vehicles are designed with universal functionality to perform multiple tasks including container transport, position reporting, and coordination with various crane types, reducing the need for specialized equipment and simplifying the overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple automated vehicles and cranes, providing centralized task allocation and conflict resolution while allowing individual components to operate independently at high speed
3Productivity
If real-time communication between control system and equipment is implemented, then coordination efficiency improves, but information transmission requirements and system integration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into modular components with standardized interfaces, where each equipment type (shore crane, yard crane, ART) has its own communication module that interfaces with the central control system through defined protocols, reducing overall integration complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an intelligent horizontal transportation system for automatic loading or unloading at a container terminal. The system includes a plurality of autonomous transport robots (ATRs) and an ATR control system. The plurality of ATRs are configured to perform horizontal transportation tasks. The ATR control system is in real-time communication with the plurality of ATRs to manage and control the plurality of ATRs; the ATR control system is in real-time communication with a terminal management system, an automated yard crane, and an automated quay crane, so as to coordinate task scheduling between the automated yard cranes, automated quay cranes, and the plurality of ATRs. The ATR control system includes a task scheduling module, a dynamic path planning module, a standardized control interface module, a traffic management module, a lock station management module, a vehicle sequencing module, a charging scheduling module, a parking management module, and a remote driving module.