0The first new generation smart container straddle carrier by ZPMC launched successfully on June 27th, entering the dynamic drive test officially. It is the first container straddle carrier with the driverless navigation system in the globe.

The container straddle carrier is the special loading and unloading machinery for removing and piling of containers between container terminal frontiers and warehouses, featuring high mobility and flexibility, energy saving, environment protection and low maintenance costs. It can complete various operations, including picking up, moving, piling, loading and unloading containers automatically.  

There are more than 1,000 container terminals in the globe at present and the container straddle carriers are used in the horizontal transportation of cargos in terminals of more than half of oversea ports. However, the automatic carrier only covers the proportion of less than 5% mainly due to high costs of peripheral equipment for the automatic carrier and low operation efficiency.

The new carrier by ZPMC can meet the requirements of the global automatic terminals thanks to the modular design and assembly, diesel-battery hybrid power, wheel-side synchronous motor drive and 8-wheel hydraulic independent steering system, dual operation and free switching between manned and unmanned driving modes . The brand new integrated navigation positioning mode is adopted in the unmanned driving, making sure the positioning accuracy and control level are leading in the world.

ZPMC, a leading port machinery company focusing on technological innovation, has been exploring new technical programs. It cooperates with Westwell Lab, an artificial intelligence company, to complete the R&D of the totally new smart carrier jointly. The project is in the final critical debugging stage at present.

The project has the wide market prospect for there are more than 4,000 container straddle carriers in operation in the world at present. It is estimated conservatively that the automation rate of the carrier will reach as much as 20% in the future.

ZPMC, struggling for excellent technology in the port industry, strengthens the integration of artificial intelligence and port technology. It focuses on manufacturing the unmanned container straddle carrier into a smart benchmark in global ports, which will be promoted in more global ports and terminals in the future.