EasyMile, a provider of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, has deployed its EZTug driverless terminal tractor at the Port of Helsingborg in Sweden to test the feasibility and effectiveness of autonomous solutions for container transportation.
Project Overview
The deployment is part of the Helsingborg Horizontal Transportation Automation project managed by HHAB, the port’s operator. The project seeks to integrate automation technologies into the port’s logistics and transportation processes to enhance cargo handling capabilities. EasyMile is conducting the deployment in collaboration with terminal tractor supplier Terberg.
Project partners include EasyMile, which provides AV technology; Terberg Special Vehicles, a company dealing with specialized vehicles for industrial applications; and the Port of Helsingborg.
Terberg has developed a drive-by-wire terminal tractor designed for autonomous and teleoperated driving, having previously delivered electric tractors to the port. For this project, EasyMile and Terberg are using a vehicle that resembles the port’s existing tractors.
Operations and testing
The EZTug operates on a 2km route connecting ship-to-shore (STS) cranes with areas designated for stacking import and export containers. It navigates mixed traffic conditions, including trucks and handling machinery, requiring advanced navigation and safety protocols. Initially, the driverless tractor will transport shipping containers, with plans to test its capacity for handling up to 32 tons.
The EZTug is equipped with a range of redundant sensors that monitor its surroundings, allowing it to safely navigate the port environment and respond to moving objects. It has been designed to stop under STS spreaders with less than 10cm longitudinal precision and 0.5cm lateral precision, efficiently transfering containers without the need for corrections from the STS cranes. The vehicle receives missions, navigates mixed traffic roads and proceeds with tasks at speeds of up to 25km/h. The EZTug also has a sensor suite for obstacle detection and avoidance.
Port of Helsingborg project manager, Pär Kraft, commented on the integration of man and machine, “There will always be a need for human supervision and input into the vehicle. Still, the ‘driver’ could instead sit at a computer in an office and monitor the fleet operation, ready to intervene if issues arise that the system cannot solve.”
Julien Collier, EasyMile’s project manager, added: “EZTug is a game-changer for port operations. Its ability to seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure and perform with high precision and safety sets a new standard for autonomous terminal tractors.”