Huawei‘s 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies help century-old port accompl...

Huawei‘s 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies help century-old port accomplish automationsHuawei

Huawei‘s 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies help century-old port accomplish automations

Zijing Fu

posted on December 7, 2022 3:24 pm

Tianjin Port, born in 1860, is now smarter, greener and more efficient with the help of technology.

Huawei, China’s leading ICT giant, has collaborated with Tianjin Port to commercialize 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies. The collaboration ran smoothly for a year in the 300,000-ton-class wharf with a channel depth of 22 meters.

The Tianjin Port boasts 192 berths of various types, including 128 berths above the 10,000-ton-class. In 2021, the port's cargo throughput reached 435 million tons, ranking ninth globally, while its container throughput exceeded 18.35 million TEUs, ranking eighth.

After introducing 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies to the Section C Terminal in its Beijiang Port Area in October 2021, Tianjin Port has become one of the world’s leading low-carbon smart ports.

"Ports are one of the world's oldest industries. Huawei is an engine that powers technological progress. When the old meets the new, I believe they will create tremendous new vitality,” Yang Jiemin, Vice President of the Tianjin Port Group, remarked, and added that the Section C in Beijiang port area of the Tianjin Port has been transformed into a “showcase for next-generation automated ports, while making significant contributions to the port industry."

Notably, the automatic locking/unlocking at Tianjin Port is realized under the guidance of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, with optimal driving routes that are calculated in real time. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System consists of 55 satellites, and its global range positioning accuracy is measured to be better than 4.4 meters, comparable to that of the U.S. (national) GPS, with better performance in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Chen Gucang, Deputy Director of China Satellite Navigation System Management Office, at a press conference earlier this year.

This terminal is the latest result of collaboration between the Tianjin Port Group, Huawei, and numerous other partners, all of which are aiming to create a world-class, smart, and green port.

According to Huawei, one of the key innovations is a AI-powered intelligent horizontal transportation management system, which helps the port to accomplish the world's first large-scale commercial deployment of superior L4 autonomous driving in ports, the world's first "5G + BeiDou" integration to enable ubiquitous intelligence, and the world's first port to achieve self-sufficiency in green electricity.

"Ports are a key link for maritime transport. They connect trade and supply markets across the globe. Building more efficient and smart ports is becoming increasingly important for the global supply chain. To achieve high-quality development, ports need to embrace digital and intelligent transformation, and build green ecosystems. The Tianjin Port has successful experience in adopting 5G and other digital technology, making it a role model for transformation within the global port industry,” said Yue Kun, CTO of Huawei's Smart Road, Waterway & Port Business Unit.