Solution

Solution Overview

Study of some of the best run cargo port

To arrive at our solution, we compared some of the most efficient run ports and their handling of cargo ship and containers

The Port of Shanghai is the biggest port in the world based on cargo throughput. It serves more than 2,000 container ships on a monthly basis
The port of Singapore receives an average of 140,000 vessels on an annual basis and connects to 600 ports globally. It is equipped with 204 quay cranes and a number of gantry cranes.
At Japanese port of Yokohama, it takes just 1.1 minutes on average to load or unload a container

Even the most efficient port uses thousands of labor, vehicles and miles and miles of land to store container

Our solution not only makes port operations efficient but optimizes usage of resources. We came out with 4 options to implement our solution in a modern port.

Solution 1 - Kimaya

Hyperloop for faster unloading

This solution was made to eliminate AGVs and make the process of sorting containers faster. Although the distance between the quay cranes and the stacks seems short in the image provided, it is actually pretty long, while the AGVs are pretty small. Sometimes, it takes time for an AGV to take the container from a crane at the bottom of the yard to a stack at the top of the yard, which may delay shipping. This idea was to have the hyper-loop between the quay crane and the stack to reduce the amount of time it takes for AGVs to get from one place to another. You could have multiple hyperloops that connect to each stack, or you could only have a couple that can move around back and forth.

Solution 2 - Kimaya

Hyperloop link to cargo train

This solution was made to get rid of road trucks. The problem was similar to the one above; road trucks can take a while to get from point A to point B, and there has been a shortage of truck drivers as well. This idea was to add a hyper-loop between the stacks and a rail terminal. A yard crane would pick up the container, place it on the conveyor belt, and a conveyor belt would move the container to the hyper-loop. The container would move through the hyperloop and then be picked up by a crane on the other side, which would place it onto a train at the rail terminal.

Solution 3 - Arnav

Hyperloop to bypass yard

Cargo needs a better way to be transported from the ships to the trucks. I thought that we should place the teams conveyor belt and hyperloop idea from where the ships and quay cranes are with a hyperloop all the way to the truck yard and entrance. I thought we should do this because this distance can be very far and for machines like AGVs that can carry a couple of cargo boxes per round (lacks efficiency). My idea is that the quay cranes do a normal routine of taking cargo out of ships, but instead of placing them on AGVs, they will place it on conveyor belts. The conveyor belts will take cargo boxes to the hyperloop which then brings them safely and efficiently to the truck yard.

Solution 4 - Roma

Hyperloop to transportation hub

In the photo, I am eliminating use of the AGVs and go directly to each transportation method. First, the cranes take the container off of the ship and place them near the hyperloop. The hyperloop will then get all the containers in side the hyperloop, then take off. It will have different stops as it shows in the photo. These are just examples stops, as it could be anywhere. First it goes to a bus, and drops off one package. Then, the same hyperloop continues its journey off to its next stop, and drops off a package. And so forth until every package is dropped off. They could strategically plan the route first so it is easiest. I think the AGVs are just very slow and take too long to get where they need to be. Hyperloops are very fast so it won't take long at all.

Solution 5 - Sumedha

Hyperloop to eliminate AGV

My solution to improve cargo transportation is to have a pod station in between the ship and hyperloop. Cranes will pick up the containers from the ship and will unload them to the pod station where the sorting will take place. As per the sorting the packages will be loaded in different pods in the hyperloop using a conveyor belt. From their the hyperloop will transport the packages to the next vehicle.

Conclusion - Our Innovation Project is to make Port more efficient

Many applications of hyperloop

Improving Efficiency - Loading / Unloading at the port and transportation through first mile, reduce idle time for container ship and containers
Reducing resource consumption - Reclaim space at the port otherwise used for container storage
Improving Connections - with elimination of AGV and other transportation vehicles used at the port, connecting from sea to land and even air can be improved

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