VIDEO: ANT Yard Robot moves towards commercial deployment

Dortmund-based ANT Machines is preparing to move its electric autonomous Yard Robot from pilot projects to its first commercial deployments. The machine is designed to move container chassis, terminal trailers and semi-trailers around yards without requiring modifications to existing equipment or infrastructure.

ANT Machines was among the companies exhibiting at Port of the Future Week, held in Antwerp and Rotterdam in September. The company’s participation reflected one of the event’s main themes: the transition from testing autonomous technologies to integrating these into live port operations. More than 30 demonstrations took place in Antwerp, covering autonomous vehicles, remotely operated inland vessels, rail applications and drones. The focus extended beyond whether individual technologies work to how they can be safely integrated into everyday port operations.

Speaking to WorldCargo News, ANT managing director ­Vitaly Chukanov said a recent trial at the Port of Tyne confirmed that its Yard Robot can work in real operating conditions and helped identify the next development priorities. The machine has a standard payload capacity of 40 tonnes, extendable to 80 tonnes, and ANT claims it can operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge. The positioning accuracy of the autonomous system is less than 10cm. The company does not publish standard figures for speed, moves per hour or energy consumption as these depend heavily on individual sites, workflows and safety requirements.

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