Port of Rotterdam places order for charging robots with Rocsys
As reported, APM Terminals recently signed a cooperation agreement with Embotech, a provider of technology for autonomous vehicles, and the Dutch special vehicle manufacturer Terberg for the delivery of 30 electric, automated terminal trucks for Maasvlakte II. And it is precisely for these vehicles that Rocsys is now to provide the charging infrastructure. As the automated terminal trucks will be travelling without a driver, it would be highly inconsistent if they had to be connected to charging stations by human personnel. This is why the technology from Rocsys is to be used, which works without people.
Rocsys has been developing its autonomous charging platform since 2019, which is based on robotics and AI-based computer vision. The idea is for a robot to take over the plugging and unplugging of the charging cables and, above all, to be able to carry out the entire process autonomously.
The partnership with Rocsys is in line with the Port of Rotterdam’s commitment to electrification and sustainability and continues to drive innovation in automated terminal operations. Rocsys supports open standards to ensure compatibility with vehicle fleets of different brands and sectors. As part of this partnership, Rocsys will enable 24/7 hands-free charging of Terberg’s 30 electric terminal trucks equipped with Embotech’s Level 4 AV Kit for autonomous operation. The hands-free charging solution is designed to reduce reliance on manual processes and also increase the safety of employees in the busy terminal.
Rocsys founder Crijn Bouman says: “The future of mobility is autonomous, and true autonomous mobility is only achieved through hands-free charging. We are excited about this collaboration with APM Terminals MVII, one of the largest and most advanced container terminals in Europe. This partnership shows how our hands-free charging solution, utilizing standardized interfaces according to the ZEPA agreement, is essential for enabling autonomous port operations, supporting our partners’ journey towards higher efficiency and greater levels of innovation.”
Harold Kunst, CEO of APM Terminals MVII, added: “By deploying Rocsys’ hands-free charging solutions we make a significant step forward in achieving our vision of a fully electric, autonomous, and sustainable terminal. There can be no fully autonomous operations without hands-free charging, and by integrating this innovative solution, we are enhancing efficiency and improving worker safety while advancing the decarbonization of our terminal operations.”
According to Rocsys, the electric terminal trucks will transport containers between the central stacking area in the port and the marshalling yard, from where goods trains will take them to companies across Europe. They will drive autonomously in complex and mixed-traffic situations. The Rocsys platform will supply the vehicles with the robot-assisted connection system around the clock at six special charging bays and ensure that the terminal lorries’ batteries remain charged.
Rocsys speaks of an important milestone for the company. The port industry has been a focus of its business for some time and the project in Rotterdam will have a major impact on the commercial use of automated terminal trucks, especially as APM Terminals is the second largest terminal operator in the world.
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