Deutsche Telekom has revealed its support for the publicly funded AutoLog project at Germany’s Emden port. The telecommunications giant plans to enhance automation and streamline workflows at automotive terminals by deploying its suite of technology offerings. Key components include leveraging the 5G network along with network APIs, and employing an edge data center for rapid onsite data processing.
The collaborative AutoLog project, involving Volkswagen Group Logistics, the Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik (BIBA), and Unikie, focuses on developing and testing advanced storage and logistics solutions featuring automated driving at the Volkswagen plant in Emden.
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Deutsche Telekom is deploying 5G coverage to the logistics area at Emden port for the “AutoLog” project, directly linking it with the Volkswagen plant. This setup allows for testing various traffic scenarios, including mixed operations involving both manual and automated vehicles. The testing grounds encompass parking areas, multiple roads, and a busy roundabout.
To create a digital replica of this testing environment, LiDAR sensors installed at Emden port will be utilized. LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, utilizes light to accurately measure distances and speeds. These sensors capture intricate details in real-time, detecting movement and stationary objects such as people, vehicles, and other items with high precision. They operate reliably under diverse lighting and weather conditions.
Unikie is providing the “marshalling system” for automatic vehicle control—also known as the Unikie Marshalling Solution (UMS). Integral to this system is a digital representation of parking spaces. The UMS ensures precise and secure vehicle control, particularly in densely populated or restricted areas. Communication with vehicles occurs over the public 5G network. In the future, LiDAR sensors will also connect to the UMS via mobile communications, eliminating the need for costly cabling. A specialized interface—the Quality on Demand Network API—guarantees consistent and reliable data transmission with Deutsche Telekom’s 5G network.
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Deutsche Telekom runs the UMS from an edge data center, ensuring rapid and secure communication between the marshalling system and vehicles. Edge cloud computing positions computing power and data storage closer to users, unlike traditional centralized cloud computing. This decentralized approach situates resources at the network’s edge, where data is generated and utilized, facilitating improved real-time data processing and quicker responses to user demands.
The scientific findings from this project will also be applied in future research. The advancements achieved in the project intend to be applied to numerous other terminals.
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