FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Laem Chabang Port one step smarter with arrival of autonomous Q-trucks

Laem Chabang Port one step smarter with arrival of autonomous Q-trucks

Hutchison Ports Thailand, the nation’s largest container terminal operator and the innovator of “smart port” development, announced on Wednesday (April 29) that it is among the world’s first port operators to acquire and test autonomous trucks at its Terminal D in Chonburi’s Laem Chabang Port.

This marks a huge step forward for the development of “smart” infrastructure in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with the autonomous “Qomolo” trucks promising to improve efficiency and safety in its operations at Terminal D.
The six battery operated Qomolo or Q-Trucks arrived from Shanghai on April 26 and will be tested for one year.
These trucks will be integrated with the existing fleet of conventional trucks used to transfer containers between the quay and the yard.
Equipped with advanced technology and a wireless charging system, a Q-Truck can operate non-stop for more than 24 hours. These trucks use the advanced LiDAR light and range detection technology, with which it can accurately detect and survey its surroundings and generate a precise 3D map enabling it to avoid all obstacles and collisions.
The operation of the trucks will be integrated into and controlled by Hutchison Ports’ Next Generation Terminal Management System, which works in conjunction with other innovations – such as remote controlled-cranes.
“The autonomous ‘Q-Trucks’ utilise the latest technology and innovation, and are part of our ongoing plan to transform Terminal D into the most technologically advanced and efficient container terminal in the region,” said Stephen Ashworth, managing director of Hutchison Ports’ Thailand and Southeast Asia operations. “The Q Truck continues to push the envelope for port innovation and along with our other already and soon-to-be implemented innovations, such as remote controlled crane-technology, online e-tracking services, gate automation and blockchain technology, we are rapidly approaching our goal of becoming the nation’s first fully-developed ‘smart port’.”

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