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Description
The project “Automatic container loading and unloading equipment between railcars or autonomous tire trucks and vehicles” aims to develop a prototype for the final technical and commercial validation of the project that the AP – BRIDGE promoter has been developing and has already requested, since December 2018, allowing, among other things: Automating seaports and logistics terminals, speeding up the loading of TEUs on railway wagons, responding to the increase in freight transport by sea container; Demonstrate relevant advances in Commercial Ports, as part of the Blue Growth program.As a result of the positive technological pre-tests in the design phase, the actions to be developed aim to reach, at the end of the proposed development, a Technology readiness levels (TRL) of 7 - Demonstration of system prototype in operational environment through: 1. Development complete prototype system; 2. Development of cargo, port and vehicle management platform; 3. Integration and validation of the complete system (A-Wagon + Buffer + Platform, autonomous and with load management); 4. Testing and validation of complete system in real controlled environment; 5. Preparation for commercialization; 6. Project promotion and dissemination of results; 7. Demonstration of the validated solution in operational context; 8. Technical and financial management of the project.
Summary of project results
The project ‘Equipment for the automatic loading and unloading of containers between rail wagons or trucks and autonomous tyre vehicles’ aims to develop a prototype of an SSL-V (Side Sliding - Vehicle) machine which, once replicated in a quantity appropriate to the flow of containers required, will make it possible to automate seaports and logistics terminals, speeding up the loading of maritime containers onto rail wagons.This solution will involve the use of several Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs), driven by a remote management centre, which can be used individually or grouped together in a line, forming mobile docks arranged parallel to the railway line.These vehicles will be able to transfer the containers directly onto the trains, without the need for other loading aids.It will thus be possible to streamline the process of transporting containers within the port, dispensing with the traditional lifting aids for vertically loading containers onto rail wagons, optimising the efficiency of logistics operations and making it possible to increase the frequency of container transport by rail, as well as optimising the operation of the infrastructure.
Predesign the prototype, identified main problems and contact many supplyers in order to choose best option for prototype eficiency. The steel structure of the SSL system was built, and is being assembled with an hidraulic system that will allow the first tests with containers. Two sets of support structures (buffers) were also built to develop these tests.Activity ATI1,Development of the macro-vehicle system - metal structure of the arms (arms+track+table) was completed as well as the different task: T1.2 - Mechanical development of the wagon adjustment table structure - Design of the lower table T1.3 - Development of the system for fine-tuning the position of the vehicle to the rail wagon - manufacture of the hydraulic jack system T1.4 - Development of loading/unloading structure for container handling At the same time comunication was considered, a promotional vídeo was done and comunicated to the main stakeholders concerning this prototype.
The solution was considered very useful by container operators, and they all want to see it running on real scale at port environment.Patents have been registered in Europe, the USA and India, which is an important step towards commercializing the project.
Summary of bilateral results
Our partner will start its work after we have defined all of the prototype relevant characteristics, in order to define the needs in the ports. Only at this point or partner will be able to develop it’s work properly.