The first autonomous port truck system in the Middle East is about to be implemented in the COSCO Shipping Ports (CSP) Abu Dhabi container terminal of the Khalifa Port.
After a trial period of two months, the equipment of six electric Q-Trucks is going to be commissioned by CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, aiming to improve the efficiency of container loading and unloading activities, while it is also anticipated to deliver reduced transformation and operating costs.
Produced by Qomolo, a sub-brand of ShangHai Westwell-Lab Technology Company, the L5 Autonomous Freight Trucks are equipped with a 360-degree sensory system with traffic monitoring and driving guidance system, facilitating vehicles’ navigation and transportation of general and reefer containers.
Additionally, a temperature control system has been installed in the trucks, which helps in extending battery life during extreme weather conditions.
Moreover, the electric Q-Trucks have the ability to carry a maximum load of 80 tonnes, while their operating range is 200km, for up to 44 hours continuously. “The new vehicles enable us to sustain our container handling operations for longer periods and enable us to continue operating in cases where business continuity becomes an operational challenge,” said Naser Al Busaeedi, Deputy CEO of CSP Abu Dhabi.
In addition to the adoption of the autonomous port truck system, the project includes a Fleet Management System (FMS) for overseeing daily activities utilising Q-Trucks. Integrated as part of the operational control tower, the platform provides real-time monitoring and workflow management processes, while simultaneously connecting to multiple systems within the terminal enabling the terminal to run.
