PSA Singapore and the Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s
(A*STAR) Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) have signed a research
collaboration agreement to jointly develop a large-scale fleet management solution for
automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in the Tuas Port.
The fleet of driverless electric vehicles is expected to increase in tandem with large-scale port operations, making Tuas Port the largest fully automated container terminal in a single location with an annual handling capacity of 65 million TEU.
The two partners will co-develop advanced automation and digitalisation solutions for AGV operations that are expected to achieve significant cost savings through the reduction of infrastructure and operational costs.
IHPC will deploy its computing technologies and algorithms to develop accelerated solutions for large-scale fleet management of AGV, while PSA will provide a simulation platform to conduct the proof of concept, and will furnish its experience in the development and operation of the existing AGV fleet management system, according to a statement.
“This collaboration will bring us closer to our vision of developing an intelligent, resilient and sustainable port of the future,” said Ong Kim Pong, the regional CEO of Southeast Asia, PSA International.
The research collaboration also includes the development of innovative techniques that
will allow a scalable design with multiple AGVs coordinating seamlessly and at the same
time for operational safety.
Upon successful development, PSA will look to apply the smart solutions to future enhanced fleet management systems as operations in Tuas Port gradually scale up, while the addition of new technologies such as 5G will further enhance computation performance.
AGVs currently play a significant role in automating yard and wharf operations for the Tuas Port, due to their versatility and manoeuvrability in picking up and transporting containers. They are also more sustainable compared to using diesel prime movers, as they reduce carbon emissions by almost 50%.
“The development of large-scale AGV fleet management solution is a step towards realising MPA’s vision to build a smart, next-generation port that increases productivity while improving safety and security,” commented Kenneth Lim, assistant chief executive (Industry) of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
