Logistics Handling cars autonomously in the port

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Automated driving cars as self-driving cargo in the port: Several companies are researching this together with Volkswagen.

Volkswagen ships around 2.4 million vehicles annually. The largest port in the network is in Emden  (North of Germany). Here, the car manufacturer is researching until the end of 2026 in the "AutoLog" project on how to automate the cars to handle themselves. Also involved are the Bremen Institute for Production and Logistics at Bremen University, Deutsche Telekom, and the software company Unikie. The goal is to find out how automated driving movements affect efficiency, safety, and climate protection on car terminals - and what the technical infrastructure needs to look like.

This is how the "AutoLog" project works

How does the project work technically? A test field is being established on the terminal area of the Emden port. The port has nine pier facilities, two sliding platforms and various railway lines, as well as four truck flatbed spaces. There's a lot of variety for the test system - incoming and outgoing vehicle flows can be mapped across all types of transport. The Volkswagen Emden plant is directly connected to the port.

According to the project partners, the test field with car parking spaces includes several lanes and a heavily frequented roundabout. A big challenge: safely control simultaneously automated driving cars, manually controlled vehicles and pedestrian movements.

Digital twin of the test field

A real-time capable digital twin of the test field is created in advance to test concepts. For this, the project partners use lidar sensors that are installed in the port. Communication to the vehicles is done via a public 5G network. The necessary sensors are connected via mobile communications.

The digital twin is part of the "Unikie Marshalling System" of the software manufacturer. "Marshalling" is the English term for "arranging, ordering" and is also used for manoeuvring trains. The system uses international ISO standards. According to the manufacturer, it is fully interoperable. That means: Vehicles of different manufacturers and types can be driven automatically on the same area without human intervention. Thus, the system is suitable for cars, trucks, and buses.

Manufacturer-independent development

Studies in the run-up to the project already showed more efficient and safer handling processes with automated driving, according to the partners. Another effect: Around 20 percent less sealed surfaces could be required because, among other things, warehouse densification saves space. The number of kilometers driven on the terminal by shuttle traffic could decrease by up to around 25 percent in some cases. And: According to the terminal operators, automated driving can also cushion staff shortages. The existing limit of "one driver - one car" is lifted with the system.

The research and development in the Autolog project are manufacturer and brand independent and should also be suitable for other terminals. Even use in the entire distribution chain is conceivable, from the areas of the car manufacturer to the dealer's yard.

The "AutoLog" project at a glance

The joint project Autolog, "Development of automated driving processes and dynamic storage and logistics concepts on car terminals", runs for three years and has a total volume of 5.8 million euros. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport promotes it in the program for Innovative Port Technologies with 3.2 million euros. Two-thirds of the funding goes to Volkswagen Group Logistics with a funding rate of 46 percent and one-third to BIBA with a funding rate of 100 percent. TÜV Rheinland is accompanying the project as a project sponsor.