Twistlock drone

grabcad

Original text: Modify the drone for unlocking standard semi-automatic twistlocks. It has a special grab and linear drive (solenoid, etc.), with which it detaches from the container and pulls the handle during the unlocking procedure. A standard design with LiPO batteries is not suitable for 24/7 operation; instead, use a small portable gasoline generator (on wheels or a trolley) that powers the drone (Tethered UAV concept). The worker controls the process using a tablet PC, and the drone has a camera on board for better positioning. Advantages: - No dangerous high-altitude work is involved. - Cost-effective drone. - Jobs are saved. Disadvantages: - Twistlock handling remains manual. - Personnel is required. Modification#1: Introduce a larger drone that can lift one semi-automatic twistlock and place it as desired on top of an earlier placed and locked container. The worker controls the process through a tablet PC, with the drone handling the twistlocks semi-manually. This design eliminates the need for a crane, saving time in the process. As a result, ship loading and unloading become much faster, leading to increased profitability. Advantages: - No dangerous high-altitude work is involved. - Faster ship loading/unloading. - Jobs are saved. Disadvantages: - Personnel is required. - A bigger and more powerful drone (and therefore more expensive) is needed. Modification#2: Create a "drone's nest" (cable connected to a power source, such as the main supply of a crane or reach-stacker, or a portable generator) mounted directly on the spreader. Twistlock handling (mounting and removal) takes place at the bottom corners of the container while it is in the air (moving from/to ship/coast). The system can be fully automatic with powerful software or remotely controlled by the operator. This results in very fast ship loading/unloading. Since the distance from the "nest" to the container is very short, super-capacitors can be used at the drone and a high-current charging connector can be installed at the "nest" instead of wires. Less realistic design (Modification#4): A wire-free drone that carries twistlocks and recharges its batteries or supercapacitors on its own. The above ideas present fresh perspectives for the industry. However, it should be noted that fully automatic twistlocks, as mentioned in "Mac Gregor decides to replace full automatic twist locks" (http://www.afcan.org/dossiers_techniques/twistlocks_gb.html), may not be feasible due to safety concerns.