Enabling Safe Wireless Harbor Automation via 5G URLLC

Automated Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes, AutoRTGs, are in many cases replacing manually operated cranes in day-to-day operations at harbor container terminals. The automated systems provide significant benefits by improving operational efficiency and predictability as well as enabling safer working environment. The crane operations are remotely controlled or automatic under supervision of the operator. The remote control, supervision and safety set extremely strict requirements for the communication between the cranes and the control room. This paper studies the potentials to use wireless, especially 4G and 5G ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) link as a replacement for a cable reel of an AutoRTG. The key research question is whether these technologies can fulfil the reliability and low latency requirements for safety and remote control operations. As a research method, this paper introduces extensive lab measurements, system simulations, and a field-test trial to validate the system and communication performance. Based on our study, 5G URLLC is capable to support the studied use cases.