Driving Efficiency and Safety: Autonomous Vehicles Navigate the Future of Ports

The Challenge

In a world where 80% of the world's trade passes through the vital arteries of ports, the challenges of inefficiency and safety concerns are significant. Congested lanes, human fatigue and operational bottlenecks impede throughput and increase the risk of accidents. With labor costs alone accounting for more than 50% of total transportation costs at major ports worldwide, the need for innovation is clear. A shortage of qualified truck drivers during peak periods further exacerbates the situation.

The global smart port market is poised for remarkable growth, from an estimated $1.9 billion in 2022 to $5.7 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.3%. Leading autonomous vehicle pilot projects are already underway at ports in the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States, with key players including ABB, IBM, WestWell, and Kalmar.

Introducing the Solution: Revolutionizing Port Operations with Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)

Autonomous vehicles are ushering in a new era of efficiency and safety in port operations. Imagine self-driving trucks seamlessly navigating towering mountains of containers, forklifts deftly maneuvering through tight turns, and intelligent container carriers gliding autonomously. This is not science fiction; it's the immediate future, powered by the most advanced technology.

However, deploying autonomous vehicles in ports presents unique challenges:

• Complex layouts with bridges connecting yards and berths without dedicated areas for automation
• Mixed operations with traditional manual vehicles
• Single truck lanes that impede passage through container stacking areas
• Communication signal obstructions from containers, quay cranes, and vessels
• Frequent interactions with remote-controlled dock cranes, manual vehicles and workers

Demystifying the Autonomous Port : Core Components

Vehicles - Self-driving trucks, AGVs and IGVs equipped with high-accuracy GNSS/INS sensor combinations for centimeter-level positioning, laser scanners for obstacle detection, and on-board computers for real-time navigation and control.

Fleet Management System - Advanced algorithms, dynamic route planning and real-time optimization that dynamically routes vehicles around congestion, monitors battery levels and vehicle health to ensure smooth operations.

Back-End Control Center -? Tracks vehicle status, displays sensor data and planned routes, and provides real-time visualization, data analysis, and control interfaces to give engineers a window into the system's decision-making process.

V2X Technologies - Vehicles and infrastructure connect wirelessly over 5G networks, enabling constant communication for traffic updates, obstacle warnings, and centralized control.

A Deep Dive into CHC Navigation's Core Technologies for Autonomous Driving

CHC Navigation specializes in providing positioning and navigation solutions for various vehicles and equipment. Core technologies include:

• Proprietary high-performance GNSS chips for optimized performance.
• Multi-constellation and multi-frequency GNSS for enhanced signal availability and accuracy.
• RTK, PPP-RTK for centimeter-level positioning accuracy
• Automotive-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs) for continuous 3D orientation and motion data.
• Tightly coupled GNSS/INS integration for seamless navigation in signal-challenged environments.
• Machine vision for added environmental awareness in select applications.

The Competitive Edge of Deploying AVs

Efficiency - Faster container movement for faster turnaround, providing a competitive advantage.

Safety Sentinel - Eliminate accidents caused by human fatigue, creating a safer environment.

Cost Optimizer - Reduce labor costs and streamline operations for significant cost savings.

Data-Driven Decisions - Leverage real-time operational insights to optimize traffic flow, resource allocation, and predictive maintenance.

CHC Navigation: A Tech-Powered Partner

The CGI-610 GNSS+INS Sensor from CHC Navigation is packed with cutting-edge technology to ensure precise navigation for autonomous vehicles. By tightly fusing measurements from multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS receivers and a tactical-grade 6-axis IMU using advanced estimation algorithms, the CGI-610 provides continuous, reliable position, velocity and attitude information even during signal challenges in challenging harbor environments.

The CGI-610 offers significant advantages over loosely coupled systems by improving positioning accuracy and stability. This enables autonomous port vehicles to navigate narrow lanes and dynamic environments with precision, avoiding collisions and contributing to the next level of efficiency and safety.

The Future is Autonomous

Autonomous vehicles powered by advanced technology offer the potential for increased efficiency and safety. CHC Navigation's CGI-610 system, an example of technological advancement, ensures accurate navigation and effectively addresses operational challenges. The use of AVs is expected to streamline trade flows, promote safety, optimize costs and leverage real-time data insights. This represents a noteworthy evolution in global trade, with CHC Navigation playing a pivotal role in steering ports toward a more technologically savvy and efficient future.

Introducing CHC Navigation

CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) creates innovative mapping, navigation, and positioning solutions to make customers' work more efficient. CHCNAV products and solutions cover multiple industries such as geospatial, construction, agriculture, and marine. With a presence across the globe, distributors in more than 120 countries, and more than 1,700 employees, CHC Navigation is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in geomatics technologies. For more information about CHC Navigation [Huace:300627.SZ ], please visit:? www.chcnav.com