Intermodal transportation terminal control system and method

A system comprising:

• one or more processors configured to determine characteristics of cargo containers scheduled for one or more of receipt into or travel out of an intermodal terminal connected with different routes for different modes of transportation, determine characteristics of cargo handling equipment within the intermodal terminal, determine characteristics of first transportation mode vehicles scheduled for one or more of entry into or travel out of the intermodal terminal, and determine characteristics of second transportation mode vehicles scheduled for entry into or travel out of the intermodal terminal, the cargo handling equipment comprising one or more cranes,
• the one or more processors also configured to determine constraints on cargo handling operations involving transferring the cargo containers between the different modes of transportation in the intermodal terminal, the constraints comprising at least one of avoiding physical conflict between the cargo handling equipment and avoiding exceeding a capacity of the cargo handling equipment,
• the one or more processors also configured to determine a plan for the cargo handling equipment to transfer the cargo containers between the different modes of transportation within the intermodal terminal, the plan designating a sequence of operations to be performed in moving the cargo containers with the cargo handling equipment, wherein the plan is determined based on the characteristics of the cargo containers, the characteristics of the cargo handling equipment, the characteristics of the first transportation mode vehicles, the characteristics of the second transportation mode vehicles, and the constraints on the cargo handling operations;
• and
• a communication device configured to be operably coupled with the one or more processors and to communicate a control signal to one or more of the cargo handling equipment to one or more of:
• display the control signal on a display screen of the cargo handling equipment for directing an operator how to operate the cargo handling equipment according to the plan, or
• automatically control the cargo handling equipment to move one or more of the cargo containers by causing motors of the one or more cranes to lift and translate the one or more of the cargo containers between locations according to the plan,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the plan in order to increase one or more of:
• an efficiency metric of a total crane gantry distance of the cargo handling equipment relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal,
• an efficiency metric of a total crane trolley distance of the cargo handling equipment relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal,
• an efficiency metric of a total number of lifts of the cargo containers by the cargo handling equipment relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal,
• an efficiency metric of a total idle time of the one or more cranes of the cargo handling equipment relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal,
• an efficiency metric of a total driver waiting time of the second transportation mode vehicles relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal,
• an efficiency metric of a number of the cargo containers that missed outbound departures of the first transportation mode vehicles relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal, or
• efficiency metrics of a total crane gantry distance of the cargo handling equipment, a total crane trolley distance of the cargo handling equipment, a total number of lifts of the cargo containers by the cargo handling equipment, a total idle time of cranes of the cargo handling equipment, a total driver waiting time of the second transportation mode vehicles, and a number of the cargo containers that missed outbound departures of the first transportation mode vehicles relative to another, different plan for the intermodal terminal.

A method comprising:

• determining characteristics of cargo containers scheduled for one or more of receipt into or travel out of an intermodal terminal connected with different routes for different modes of transportation;
• determining characteristics of cargo handling equipment within the intermodal terminal, the cargo handling equipment comprising one or more cranes;
• determining characteristics of first transportation mode vehicles scheduled for one or more of entry into or travel out of the intermodal terminal;
• determining characteristics of second transportation mode vehicles scheduled for entry into or travel out of the intermodal terminal;
• determining constraints on cargo handling operations involving transferring the cargo containers between the different modes of transportation in the intermodal terminal, the constraints comprising avoiding physical conflict between the cargo handling equipment and avoiding exceeding a capacity of the cargo handling equipment;
• determining a plan for the cargo handling equipment to transfer the cargo containers between the different modes of transportation within the intermodal terminal, the plan designating a sequence of operations to be performed in moving the cargo containers with the cargo handling equipment, wherein the plan is determined based on the characteristics of the cargo containers, the characteristics of the cargo handling equipment, the characteristics of the first transportation mode vehicles, the characteristics of the second transportation mode vehicles, and the constraints on the cargo handling operations;
• and
• communicating a control signal to one or more of the cargo handling equipment to direct the cargo handling equipment to automatically move one or more of the cargo containers by causing motors of the one or more cranes to lift and translate the cargo containers between locations according to the plan.