ZPMC Unveils 1st Smart Straddle Carrier

The first artificial intelligence (AI) unmanned straddle carrier in the world was recently developed by equipment manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC).

Also new type of carrier has the accuracy rate of autonomous operation of nearly 100%, the company said, citing actual measurement.

“In the future, the straddle carrier will directly change the existing horizontal transport operation on terminals, truly liberate the labor force on terminals and enhance the horizontal transportation efficiency of terminals by more than 50%,” ZPMC said.

ZPMC started a R&D program together with engineering company westwell lab in August 2017 aimed at developing an automated driving unmanned straddle carrier. In November, 2017, the parties developed a global first automated driving unmanned straddle carrier.

More than half of overseas container terminals are using straddle carriers for horizontal transportation. However, less than 5% of straddle carriers are automated ones.