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Autosteering for Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes

Never Fall Off Track

Container CranesSafety through precision

The YardIT Autosteering module is the backbone in our modular automation tool series for Rubber Tired Ganty Cranes.

Our Rubber Tired Gantry crane autosteering offers an array of vital advantages, such as heightened productivity and increased employees safety. These modules allow the driver to stay focused on important tasks because the RTG gantry is kept on a pre-programmed path without needing driver steering inputs. More accurate steering allows for a more accurate stack alignment, allowing for increased stack density, as well as assisting in preventing collisions caused by unexpected, loose configurations.

Built into the autosteering package is our patented GPS-calculation feature, the ReAcquisition Accelerator System (RAAS) (“Shadow-support”). This two-antenna solution keeps the direction/position of the crane from being lost even if one antenna loses connection temporarily due to, for example, a large obstacle like a building or a Ship-To-Shore crane. 

The autosteering module’s main features are:

  • Automatic fast ramp-down/ slow-down in the event of extreme deviation
  • The operator cabin has Graphical deviation display 
  • Comprehensive integration to PLC systems, including AC drive encoders
  • Twin dual-frequency DGPS receiver for redundancy and precision
  • Dual DGPS receiver antennas on opposing ends of the gantry for precise heading determination

Productivity at Every Turn

The module provides a clean upgrade path for future Rubber Tired Gantry crane automation. Crucial steps to complete automation are:

The AutoSteering module offers a clean upgrade path for further RTG automation. Key steps to full automation are:

  • TeleMove module – allows a single operator to operate many Rubber Tired Gantry cranes in teleoperation.  Trolley and gantry travel is completely automatic, whereas micromotions, final hoist-lowering, initial hoist lifting, and unlock/lock functions are completed manually through a teleoperation station. The operator, located at a remote station, receives video feed from the Rubber Tired Gantry cranes and operates them with controls like those you would find in a standard RTG cabin.
  • AutoMove – allows for completely automatic operation of RTG trolley and gantry. When a target container slot is transmitted to the Rubber Tired Gantry Crane, the spread moves on top of the target slot automatically. Hoisting, both downwards and upwards, is semi-automatic.
  • AutoGrab –  allows the Rubber Tired Gantry crane to perform the final movement of the container that grabs the spreader completely automatically
  • AutoStop – halts the trolley and gantry’s travel automatically when a target slot is reached. This allows for total speed motion until deceleration is initiated automatically. Optimizing the deceleration timing and profile through a programmed ramp reduces the cycle time of the Rubber Tired Gantry crane