In 2023, the Port Industry Health and Safety Statistics report highlighted key safety challenges in terminal operations:
These findings underscore the pressing need for solutions that enhance safety in environments where heavy machinery and vehicles operate in close quarters with workers. Automation not only reduces human exposure to high-risk tasks but also drives operational efficiency, which is a critical factor for terminal operations.
FERNRIDE has teamed up with Continental to tackle these challenges by integrating advanced radar and camera technology into FERNRIDE’s autonomous trucking solutions. This collaboration is creating a safer, more reliable future for terminal transport operations.
FERNRIDE-enabled autonomous terminal tractors operate in the demanding environments of high-density terminals, where safety is not a feature but a requirement. This requires advanced sensing and perception capabilities. Continental’s automotive-grade sensor technology plays a crucial role in ensuring our terminal tractors can navigate complex and dynamic scenarios safely.
Enhanced Perception: Imagine an autonomous terminal tractor operating in a busy terminal. Even when visibility is limited by fog, heavy rain, snow, or darkness, Continental’s ARS430 Long Range Radar works continuously to provide a highly detailed, real-time picture of its surroundings. Using advanced signal processing and a smart antenna design, the radar creates a precise view of the environment. This means that even small or unexpectedly moving objects are detected reliably, giving the system ample time to adjust its trajectory.
As our CTO, Thomas Bock, puts it,
"Continental's automotive-grade cameras and radars are critical enablers of our Human-Assisted Autonomy approach, providing the precision and reliability necessary for fully autonomous operations in challenging environments like container terminals. The radars are crucial for detecting and tracking moving actors at a safe distance, even under the highly reflective conditions of a container yard, which differ significantly from highway settings."
Complementing the radar are the FSC336 Far Look Satellite Cameras and SVC331 Surround View Cameras, which provide a complete 360-degree view around the vehicle, even in low-light conditions. This all-around situational awareness ensures that any unexpected event is identified early, allowing remote operators to have the clarity they need to step in for exception handling when necessary.
Proactive Hazard Mitigation: Our technology does more than simply react to dangers; it anticipates them. By continuously scanning the environment, the system recognizes and predicts potential conflicts before they become critical. In the often congested and unpredictable setting of a container terminal, this proactive approach translates to a significant reduction in risk and smoother daily operations for terminal operators.
FERNRIDE’s commitment to safety goes beyond technology; it’s embedded in the design and operation of its autonomous systems. Our partnership with Continental ensures that every tractor is equipped with the latest sensor technology designed to monitor traffic flow and spot hazards in real time. This capability allows us to address issues before they develop into problems, ensuring that operations continue without unexpected interruptions.
“Highly reliable and robust environmental perception of the vehicle's surroundings is key when realizing autonomous driving functions,” said Bernd Hartmann, head of Innovation Line Driverless at Continental’s Autonomous Mobility business area. “We are delighted to support FERNRIDE with our latest state-of-the-art sensor technologies enabling their vehicles to operate safely in most challenging industrial environments towards future driverless mobility."
This advanced perception capability allows FERNRIDE’s system to take a proactive approach to safety, ensuring that risks are mitigated before they escalate.
We are already delivering real-world results. Our autonomous driving system has been successfully deployed at a container terminal environment, proving its ability to handle complex scenarios. You can see it in action, navigating challenges without a driver:
The video below provides a snapshot of these capabilities in a dynamic terminal environment:
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This is just the beginning. Our collaboration is not only solving today's problems, but is also building a scalable solution for the future of autonomous trucking. This partnership is paving the way for driverless trucking beyond the terminal gates, including open-road operations and hub-to-hub transport. With Continental's robust sensors and FERNRIDE's innovative approach to autonomy, we're driving towards a safer, more efficient, and automated future.