Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Together
with the company Loxystem, InformAsic has developed a new technology
for container handling. The wireless embedded solution makes it
possible to remotely control twist locks, hence increase the
efficiency and safety when loading and unloading containers on
ships.
When
containers are transported on ships many of the containers are
stacked several storages above the deck surface. To avoid
displacement of the loads, or unintentional dropping over board, the
containers are secured to each other by the aid of twist locks. Every
single lock needs to withstand a minimum of 50 tons tension force,
i.e. being extremely solid and robust. The
twist locks that are used today need to be opened manually, a both
dangerous and inefficient work procedure and where the stevedores
need to be able to open locks up to 10-15 meters above the deck
surface.
The
new patented lock from Loxystem is a twist lock that is placed in
each corner of the container. The design makes it possible to
remotely control the lock through an embedded system containing an
electronic controlled motor and a radio communication module. This
way the crane operator is able to open the locks from his ordinary
cabin position and also to be assured that the locks have securely
been locked when loading. The efficiency and productivity can now be
increased and the personal safety can simultaneously be improved.
-
The requirements from Loxystem have been very challenging. At the same
time it is very inspiring to work with customers that challenge us
to provide new innovative high tech solutions for embedded systems,
says Leif Åkesson, CEO InformAsic.
InformAsic
has developed the complete embedded system. The radio communication
follows the 802.15.4 standard (2,4 GHz), which has low power
consumption and therefore can extend the battery lifetime. The
hardware is based on a System on Chip (SoC) solution. A new radio
protocol has been developed, since there were no existing protocols
available on the market for this type of application. To make the
radio communication function well in a container environment a
specific antenna solution was developed. The project has also
included integration of motor control and sensors. Software and radio
communication to a Windows based handheld computer have also been
developed by InformAsic in this project.
-
To work with the specialists at InformAsic has been very productive.
In these type of pioneering projects you never know in advance what
kind of challenges you will face and without InformAsic's innovative
and flexible attitude we would not have come this far at this time
says Dag Tryggö, CEO Loxystem.
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