Technology

Autonomous vehicles, such as terminal tractors, are increasingly being utilized within container terminals for horizontal transportation to improve efficiency and safety. Compared to manually operated tractors, autonomous, electric vehicles offer the potential for 24/7 operation, reduced manual labor, and optimized driving patterns, leading to increased productivity, safety and potentially lower fuel consumption.

These vehicles rely on a suite of technologies to perceive and navigate their surroundings. Let's take a closer look at how these vehicles "see" and understand the port environment, as well as interacting with the world around them.

Sensor Technologies: The Foundation of Perception

Autonomous vehicles are equipped with various sensors, each providing unique data about the environment:

• Cameras: Similar to human vision, cameras capture images that allow the system to identify objects like containers, vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure.
• LiDAR: This technology uses lasers to measure distances and generate a 3D point cloud representation of the surroundings, crucial for obstacle detection and precise navigation.
• Radar: Utilizing radio waves, radar detects objects and measures their speed and direction, even in low visibility conditions or darkness.

Sensor Fusion: Building Understanding

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The data collected by these sensors is combined through a process called sensor fusion. By integrating information from multiple sources, autonomous trucks can develop a more accurate and reliable understanding of their environment. This allows the vehicles to make informed decisions, even in challenging conditions like poor visibility or congested areas. Then, the data is processed, in order to:

• Identify and classify objects: The system differentiates between various objects like containers, vehicles, people, and infrastructure elements.
• Detect and track movement: By analyzing changes in sensor data, the truck determines the speed and direction of other objects, enabling it to predict their paths and avoid collisions.
• Assess the environment: The system analyzes factors like road conditions, weather, and lighting to ensure safe and efficient navigation.

Mapping and Localization: Knowing Where to Go

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Autonomous terminal tractors rely on detailed maps of the terminal layout to navigate efficiently within the port. These maps include information about roads, lanes, buildings, and other fixed features. As the truck moves, it uses GPS, inertial measurement units (IMU), and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to determine its exact location within the map. By continuously updating its position and comparing sensor data with the map, the truck can follow optimal routes and avoid obstacles.

• Mapping: Detailed maps of the terminal, including roads, lanes, buildings, and container areas, provide a reference for navigation.
• SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping): This technology allows the truck to build a map of its surroundings while simultaneously determining its location within that map.

What Autonomous Technology, Paired with Human Oversight, Means for Terminal Operators

The advanced perception capabilities of autonomous terminal tractors offer many potential benefits, such as improved efficiency and safety. When paired with human oversight, as embodied by FERNRIDE’s human-assisted autonomy approach, it offers some key advantages:

• Improve productivity: FERNRIDE's human-assisted autonomy approach allows a single operator to remotely oversee multiple trucks simultaneously, significantly increasing productivity.
• Enhance safety: Advanced sensors, algorithms, safety features and fail-safe mechanisms means proactive collision prevention. Human oversight and remote assistance capabilities provide added security in complex scenarios, and unplanned edge cases. 
• Minimize infrastructure changes: Unlike Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which often require dedicated infrastructure, FERNRIDE’s autonomous terminal tractors can operate within existing terminal layouts, reducing implementation costs and complexities.

A New Path to Autonomy

Building autonomous vehicles for logistics doesn't require a moonshot mentality, but advanced sensors and algorithms aren’t enough. FERNRIDE's pragmatic approach demonstrates this by combining the power of advanced sensor technology with the irreplaceable value of human oversight. 

While LiDAR, cameras, and radar provide the autonomous system with a comprehensive understanding of its surroundings, it's the human operator who acts as the ultimate decision-maker, assisting when necessary and guiding the vehicle through complex scenarios. This fusion of human intelligence, machine precision and advanced safety system design, ensures that autonomous systems are not just technologically advanced but also inherently trustworthy and reliable, paving the way for a more confident adoption of autonomy in the logistics industry.