News
Dematic leads industry with world-first voice solution for NZ’s CentrePort
22.09.2009
CentrePort has become what is believed to be the first port operator in the world to implement voice-directed computing.
The introduction of voice technology on six new twin-lift straddle carriers and eight older straddles at the Wellington port is a significant breakthrough in port operations, delivering a wide range of benefits including enhanced safety, productivity and increased accuracy.
For the past 10 years, container movements in most ports have been directed via radio data terminals (RDT) fitted to container handling equipment such as forklifts and straddle carriers. Operators read instructions on where to go and what to do from the RDT’s screen and use a keyboard to confirm actions.
Why voice is better for container handling
"Container handling is much more complicated than normal forklift operations. The operators can be sitting up to 15m in the air, and visibility is restricted when handling and transporting containers," said Karen Funnell, CentrePort’s Health Safety and Security Manager.
"The obvious benefit with voice-directed computing is its hands-free, eyes-free operation. It enables drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel and controls, and their eyes on where they are going at all times, making it an intrinsically safer and more efficient process for directing container movements.
"Reducing the distractions or number of actions a driver has to do improves health and safety. Just reading a computer screen in an operator’s cab can be difficult at times because of glare," she said.
"Voice also means the drivers don’t need to be constantly changing their field of vision and focus from long to short, which further enhances safety."
Container handling by voice
The Vocollect voice-directed computing system, supplied and integrated by Dematic Real Time Logistics, interfaces with CentrePort’s container terminal management system, Jade Master Terminal (JMT).
Developed by shipping industry specialist Jade Software Corporation, JMT transmits work instructions directly to the voice-directed computing system.
Container locations within the port are identified by an alpha row and numerical location combined with the height of the containers.
A computer-generated voice command directs operators to retrieve a container from a specific location. The operator indicates that he is ready and reads out the last four digits of the container number to verify that the correct container is picked up.
The voice system then instructs the operator to transport the container to the desired location within the port. When the operator arrives at the destination, the operator says "go ahead" after the container is placed in the correct location. On acknowledgement of the task, the operator receives their next instruction.
