| 1. |
- Agrawal, Tarun, 1989, et al.
(författare)
-
Automating Loading and Unloading for Autonomous Transport: Identifying Challenges and Requirements with a Systems Approach
- 2023
-
Ingår i: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. - 1868-4238 .- 1868-422X. - 9783031436697 ; 691 AICT, s. 332-345
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The logistics industry has undergone significant changes due to high demand, competition, cost pressures, interruptions, and labor market limitations affecting supply chains. As a result, there has been a significant adoption of automation in internal logistics such as warehousing, stock control, and material handling, leading to increased organizational competitiveness by reducing manual labor costs and time spent on these operations. The use of autonomous road transport holds potential to improve transport performance within areas of safety, sustainability, and efficiency. However, for autonomous transport to be fully ealized, loading and unloading processes at shipping and receiving facilities must also be automated. This paper takes a systems approach to identify the challenges and requirements for automated loading and unloading in a setting of autonomous truck transport potentially within a production setting. By addressing these challenges and meeting the necessary requirements, it may be possible to fully realize the benefits of autonomous transport and improve overall transport performance.
|
|
| 2. |
- Sultan, Farook Abdullah, 1991, et al.
(författare)
-
Automated Loading and Unloading Operations: A Systematic Review
- 2023
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Purpose Material handling has witnessed changes with automations occurring in the transport sector. The increasing implementation of autonomous trucks lays questions on the loading and unloading operations that the conventional truck driver used to perform. Loading and unloading operations interface warehouses and transportation. Conventionally characterised by the manual operating nature causing inefficiencies and discontinuities, automated loading and unloading (ALUL) benefit by enhancing workflows, improves performance, and reduces losses. Despite these benefits, research on ALUL is minimal. This article i) details focus of ALUL systems in research, ii) indicates adopted evaluation indicators and iii) highlights key enablers and impediments witnessed during implementation. Methodology Developments are assessed by carrying out a systematic literature review including published literature, technical articles etc. Review is initiated by identifying appropriate keywords, coupled with Boolean operators, to retrieve literature from scientific databases. Findings Research on LUL reveal a classified research focus on perception systems, manipulators, and general solution type. Operating time was identified to be a commonly evaluated performance parameter despite research revealing diverse parameters. The review highlights i) variable loading and unloading methods with changing good types. ii) Complexities in identifying and manipulating goods. iii) Frequent human involvement, and iv) high implementation costs and associated infrastructural modifications to influence implementation despite many enablers supporting the implementation of this technology. Despite the above issues, commercial solutions with varied degrees of automation are available and are listed in this article. Practical implications ALUL systems are described comprehensively providing a detailed representation of existing knowledge regarding ALUL, making selection easier for interested industries and guiding them through the transformation process. Originality Research aids in determining function-specific systems enabling a detailed understanding of ALUL systems.
|
|
| 3. |
- Sultan, Farook Abdullah, 1991, et al.
(författare)
-
Efficiency Assessment in Automated Loading and Unloading of Autonomous Trucks and its Implications for the Wider Transportation System
- 2024
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduktion The transport sector has witnessed significant changes with the adoption of electrification and automation. One such change has been the implementation of autonomous trucks. Despite being a solution to tackle existing sector challenges, the attention paid to the potential for automating loading and unloading (LUL) of autonomous trucks at various nodes in the system such as warehouses, terminals and loading docks has been limited. The LUL process serves as a crucial interface between the autonomous trucks and nodes and the impact of this interface on a wider system level remains insufficiently explored. Existing literature predominantly concentrates on evaluating the performance of individual components of automated systems, such as autonomous transport or automated LUL. Drawing from observations gathered during a test run within an ongoing research and development project, this study assesses the performance potential for automating LUL operations using an AGV handling standard pallets with self-driving trucks. The system context considered encompasses operations from factory loading docks to warehouse receiving points, all located within a confined area. Metod The study is based on research using a mixed method case study. The case is a part of a project involving a major manufacturing company and its automated LUL operations and autonomous transport. The case team consists of experts in transport, cargo securing, and materials handling. The study uses both quantitative data for capturing performance values and qualitative data for understanding the influence of interfaces on the overall system. Resultat Results from the test run comprise the assessment of performance potential in terms of time efficiency, cost, and safety, of automated LUL operation together with autonomous trucks. The result also comprises identifying the necessities of the LUL system considering its connections to the wider system involving autonomous truck and the upstream/downstream material flow system. Outcomes indicate that efficiency alone may not justify the implementation of LUL automation, but it may be motivated if resulting values in the wider transport system can be exploited. This leads to a discussion on potential benefits in the wider system and the prerequisites that need to be at place to realize such benefits. Slutsats Automating LUL has the potential for benefits when implemented together with the introduction of autonomous trucks. However, there are major challenges, and the implementation path is far from smooth. The outcomes of this study details the complexities involved in the evaluation of automated LUL systems. Lessons from the study provide a foundation for the next steps in this field such as expanding the testing outside the factory gates.
|
|
