Revolutionizing logistics operations for general cargo is a major challenge that demands a game-changing smart port solution. However, most digitalization applications only concentrate on container management and neglect efficient management of non-container goods. The latest innovation by Ericsson ONE intrapreneurs creates an anchor point for general cargo, transforming ports into digitally connected hubs that seamlessly link millions of shipments. Discover how this innovative 5G solution enables more sustainable and connected ports and significantly reduces costs and time.

In one sentence, what is this new solution?
5G Cargo is a smart port solution for general cargo that leverages 5G technology to assist and optimize logistics operations in ports in real-time. This solution helps to reduce costs, timing, fuel consumption, and carbon footprint.

What challenges are you trying to solve through your smart port solution?
Ports are the major gateways for both import and export flows, with 90 percent of international trade being carried by sea. The volume of traffic for marine ports is expected to increase every year. However, in a considerable number of cases, general cargo freights in the yard are not monitored, and their location is unknown. The operations related to them are mostly manual and left to the experience of port operators, leading to many inefficiencies and significant amounts of time being wasted. Consequently, costs, fuel consumption, and associated CO2 emissions increase exponentially.

As a result, port operators are actively seeking smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions to these issues, as confirmed by our market studies and conversations with several port authorities. Several ongoing European projects are also working with ports to address these challenges, aiming to reduce costs and pollution by about 10 percent.

To provide specific figures, 76 percent of ports recognize the need to optimize terminal operations, 67 percent consider cost as a major concern, and 50 percent have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the Paris Climate Agreement’s target of halving emissions by 2030. In summary, digital technologies are vital in tackling these challenges and revolutionizing port operations.

How can your solution solve these challenges?
The key feature of our solution is digitization, which is crucial to addressing the challenges faced by ports. By combining distributed sensing with an intelligent remote-control system, we can optimize operations and reduce costs and pollution. AR, VR, and AI all play important roles in achieving these goals, while 5G dedicated networks technology serves as reliable enabler for the system to connect all field devices, especially mobile ones. By harnessing the power of cellular technology, we can transform ports into more productive and sustainable transport hubs. These digitally connected harbors of the future will seamlessly connect millions of shipments and track goods more efficiently and securely.

Logistics management coordinates and assists all seaport operations in real-time using an expert system, an app, and AR content from registration to storage and loading.

Augmented reality assists drivers in quickly locating and placing objects by providing freight coordinates.

The digital twin of the port terminal provides situational awareness and helps in planning and preventing errors through simulation.

How does the solution work?
Our solution for smart ports encompasses three main pillars: operation monitoring, logistics management, and the digital twin of the port terminal.

Factbox
• Operation monitoring in real-time uses cameras and image processing to detect and localize freight, and GPS to track the position of vehicles. Notably, forklifts used to move materials are monitored using GPS, and the information is transmitted through 5G to the air control system, which improves efficiency and reduces costs.
• Logistics management relies on an expert system, an app, and AR content to coordinate and provide real-time assistance to all operations in the seaport from registration to storage and loading.
• The digital twin of the port terminal provides a concrete real-time situational awareness of the terminal through VR, helping in the planning of operations and preventing errors through the simulation of operations.
This is achieved through the following technological capabilities:
Operation monitoring: We use SSL cameras and GPS to monitor freight position and vehicle location in real-time, integrating this information to better understand the port terminal situation. To track freight in the storage area, we combine various SW techniques from mono to multi-stereo vision and airport security surveillance. People detection algorithms based on neural networks are used to remove individuals from images for privacy. These monitoring functions are connected to the AI management, which determines appropriate actions based on the situation in the area.

AI management: AI management arranges, organizes, and reacts to events to optimize activity. Our logistic management function is based on AI expertise and uses the NASA CLIPS rule-based expert system, meaning it introduces a set of rules that can be changed periodically to accommodate evolving needs, deciding which operations to perform and when.

The system interfaces with all devices, including tablets, GPS, and a relational database storing information about freight, vehicles, ships, and voyages. A real-time sorting algorithm optimizes the position of freight in the storage area, especially useful for optimizing spaces and times when freight arrives randomly.

Digital twin: The digital twin is a virtual representation of the port terminal that serves multiple purposes, from monitoring to planning and simulation. Using a top commercial game engine, it allows for the quick creation of new environments using specific building blocks and a dedicated design process to generate a realistic model of the working area. Connected to the AI management and its database, the digital twin provides an immersive view of the terminal to control room personnel through a VR helmet, with the ability to interact with the environment using a virtual pointer and clipboard. It can also be used for interactive planning and sorting of freight in the storage area, as well as employee training employees through 3D simulation of port terminal operations.

Personnel app: One view of the app is used for registering new freight arrivals. The operator verifies the information and selects a vehicle for transfer, and the AI management system updates the database and informs the vehicle driver.

Another view of the app is used by forklift drivers during transfer operations, providing real-time information on the location of the vehicle, target position, and augmented reality view of the storage area. The GPS identifies the vehicle position which is shared with the AI management system to optimize operations.
A third app is used by stevedores during loading operations, allowing them to request characteristics of an item that may differ from the loading list. The AI management system handles the request and selects a free forklift to complete the transfer, sending details to the driver app and providing feedback to the stevedore.

Overall, our solution for smart ports utilizes cutting-edge technology to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize pollution, while providing personnel with the tools they need to handle freight more effectively.

What are the main benefits of developing the project within Ericsson ONE?
Ericsson ONE offers the means and support to move from idea to business. They assist you in several aspects, such as legal advice, financial assistance, compliance, and business insights in formulating go-to-market and business models. They also help you acquire the right set of information, gain access to experts on different domains, and provide the required financing to proceed with the idea in different phases. The coaching provided by Ericsson ONE guides you through the different steps, giving you the right perspective and required set of information.

The program has enabled us to move from the idea phase to a viable business in clear, sequential steps, starting with ideation, then proceeding to application realization and testing, right through to finding potential customers, assisting with legal advice, financial assistance, compliance, and finally building a robust business model. They provide reliable information from experts, such as Gartner, and finance these projects directly, making it easier to realize the product. Additionally, their coaching guide helps us focus on the right items at the right time and ensures we receive all the necessary information. Overall, Ericsson ONE assists in various aspects of building a successful business.

What’s the current status of the project and what are the next steps?
At the moment, we have completed the minimum viable product evaluation at the Port of Aveiro and confirmed the positive results we previously achieved in the proof-of-concept conducted in the European H2020 project Corealis in Livorno. We are now ready to transform the solution into a commercial product by finalizing the business analysis and actively promoting our solution to port terminals to acquire more potential customers. We are also preparing a list of different product bundles that we can sell, as the solution is quite extensive and not all ports may require all the functionalities. Additionally, we are also determining the pricing strategy for different types of ports, as they vary in size. For example, small ports may require a different pricing model than medium or large ports. Furthermore, some ports may only require specific functionalities such as digital tween solutions, which we can sell separately or combine with other functionalities.

Reflections on the project
This project highlights the importance of strong and cross-functional collaboration among different Ericsson groups and teams, resulting in outstanding outcomes like those seen in the port of Aveiro. The synergy between Ericsson ONE, Ericsson Research, MELA CU in Portugal, and Dedicated Networks was a significant advantage in achieving what would otherwise be difficult to attain.
Source: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson