The circuit diagram required for the project has recently been completed. This translates the procedures and processes at the terminal universally for all systems involved. With this "mission planning", vehicle development is now entering the decisive phase. "Thanks to the good groundwork done by Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and the creation of the mission planning, we can now initiate the next development steps for our Anita truck. This brings us ever closer to our common goal of using the autonomous truck in container handling. These project test drives will also provide us as MAN with further insights for the development of future autonomous driving in hub-to-hub traffic on fixed routes between logistics terminals," says MAN project manager Amelie Jacquemart-Purson on the milestone that has now been reached.

Common language as the key

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences presented its analysis results back in summer 2021 after the scientists led by Prof. Dr. Christian T. Haas, in cooperation with MAN Truck & Bus, analyzed the processes and behaviours of people and machines on site. After all, for a truck to be able to drive fully automatically at the container and DUSS terminals (Deutsche Umschlaggesellschaft Schiene-Straße mbH) in Ulm in future, it must be able to communicate with the infrastructure. Together with its partner Deon Digital, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences has now transferred these findings into a digital set of rules and programmed various modules based on a common language. "We used the CSL Contract Specification Language from Deon Digital as a common language to ensure a clear and complete communication chain," explains Haas. "This means that all processes are set up as individual contracts."

The result is a complete mission planning system that connects both the vehicle and the two different IT systems of the container and DUSS terminals. Like a universal interpreter, the solution speaks the languages of all heterogeneous systems and guides the automated truck through the container handling process. The project partners MAN Truck & Bus and Götting can now incorporate this software, which is constantly being optimized, into the development of the autonomous vehicle. The first test drives with the prototype truck are expected to take place in Ulm-Dornstadt at the end of 2022. In the future, digitalization and automation will also be driven forward at other DB container terminals in Germany - along a roadmap that will lead to the future Terminal 4.0.

Focus on efficiency and sustainability

"Automated transfer of loading units between our transhipment terminal and the container depot means that combined transport can be handled even more efficiently and sustainably," explains Thomas Wünsch, IT and Processes Project Manager at DUSS. "DB Intermodal Services' container depot also benefits from the innovation project. By integrating the autonomous truck into the real terminal processes, we are gaining valuable experience for our operations," adds Jens Pröse, Head of Process Organization at DB IS.

This article appeared in materialfluss 3/22.