The port is believed
to be the first in Europe to introduce such equipment.
Manufacturer Westwell
has supplied the first two battery-powered trucks to enter service at the UK’s
largest container port – which is just exiting months of
labour action after dockworkers struck a pay deal with Hutchison Ports.
“These
new autonomous trucks represent a significant technological step forward for
the Port of Felixstowe,” said Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer at
the Port of Felixstowe.
“The tools
underpinning port operations have evolved continuously, and we already have
a range of very advanced systems and
equipment in place, but this is the first time we will have wholly driverless vehicles.”
The ATs units have built-in safety features which are slated to ensure effective and safe
operations at container terminals at the Port of Felixstowe.
The trucks use a
digital map loaded to a fleet management system that controls the navigation
around the port. The AT then combines that map with its on-board GPS navigation
to track its real-time position.
“The ATs use LiDAR – a
light sensing technology that creates a 3D map of an AT’s surroundings using a
laser and receiver, which, when combined with its on-board 360-degree cameras,
provide real-time, all-round ‘vision’,” said Project Director, and Hutchison
Ports UK Chief Information Officer, Karen Poulter.
“This enables it to
‘see’ everything instantaneously in its vicinity to allow safe and accurate
navigation.“With the support of Extreme Precise Position (EPP) system, it can
achieve positioning accuracy of 2 centimetres and a steering angle accuracy of
0.5 degrees.”
The trucks will be initially used to transport
containers between Trinity and North Rail terminals at the port. |