Autonomous Loading and Unloading Control for Driverless Freight Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and safety concerns associated with relying on truck drivers for continuous 24-hour operations in large ports, coupled with the need for fully automated goods transportation to reduce costs and enhance safety in freight logistics.

Innovation Solution

A system for automatic loading/unloading utilizing an autonomous driving control device, a management system, and a loading/unloading control device to facilitate fully automated goods transportation in areas like coastal ports, highways, and warehouses, enabling communication and control among these components to manage autonomous vehicles and loading/unloading devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If truck drivers are used for continuous 24-hour operations, then goods transportation can be performed, but operational costs increase and safety risks arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidoperational cost and safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs goods transportation independently without human drivers. The vehicle autonomously navigates to loading/unloading destinations, communicates with management systems, and executes transportation tasks automatically, enabling continuous operation without requiring human drivers and thereby reducing operational costs and safety risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human drivers operating vehicles with an autonomous driving control device that uses sensors, processors, and control algorithms to operate the vehicle automatically. This substitution eliminates the need for human drivers while maintaining continuous transportation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Duration of action of moving object

If multiple truck drivers are assigned to each truck for 24-hour coverage, then continuous transportation is achieved, but the number of drivers and operational costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous transportation durationVSAvoidnumber of drivers required
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle independently manages its own operation for continuous transportation tasks. It autonomously handles navigation, communication with the management system, and execution of transportation instructions without requiring multiple drivers to take turns, thereby achieving continuous operation with zero human drivers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If autonomous driving control is implemented, then driver costs are eliminated, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational costVSAvoidautonomous control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous driving control device and management system are designed to handle multiple functions including autonomous navigation, communication with loading/unloading control devices, reception and execution of transportation instructions, and coordination with other autonomous vehicles. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into integrated systems that can be managed efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3757914B1System for automatic loading and unloading and related devices
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 BEIJING TUSEN WEILAI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3757914B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3757914B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3757914B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a system for automatic loading/unloading and related devices, capable of achieving fully automated goods transportation within a particular area. The system includes: an autonomous driving control device (1) configured to control the autonomous vehicle to autonomously move to a loading/unloading destination upon receiving a transportation instruction containing the loading/unloading destination and transmit a standby message to a management system (2); and control the autonomous vehicle to leave the loading/unloading destination upon receiving a loading/unloading completion instruction; the management system (2) configured to transmit the transportation instruction to the autonomous driving control device (1) and transmit a loading/unloading instruction to a loading/unloading control device (3) upon receiving the standby message; and transmit the loading/unloading completion instruction to the autonomous driving control device (1) upon receiving a loading/unloading completion message transmitted from the loading/unloading control device (3), and the loading/unloading control device (3) configured to control a loading/unloading device to load goods onto or unload goods from the autonomous vehicle upon receiving the loading/unloading instruction, and transmit the loading/unloading completion message to the management system (2) when the loading/unloading is completed.