Advances in Container Cranes Automation

This paper summarizes the most important advances of the used crane control technology in perspective of automatic operation of container cranes. Faster and more productive container cranes demands highly efficient yard system. Storage capacity is the limitation for most terminals today; automatic operation offers optimum stacking density and peak capacity equivalent for continuous manning of every crane. As cranes become larger and faster, operations starting to be increasingly more difficult. To meet the increased demand, different automation strategies should be adopted. Automatic operation requires sensor systems for target position (TPS), sensors for load position (LPS), video equipment on spreader/crane, control and communication equipment on the crane and remote consoles for video and control signals. As new large containers terminals are being built in many places, automation as already accepted technology with proven benefits, helping the change in mindsets towards increased acceptance of automation concepts.