Demonstration of Automated Ship Loading and Unloading of Autonomous Driving Vehicles

- Full-scale demonstration of advanced export/import maritime logistics technology in preparation for the commercialization of future fully autonomous vehicles

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) disclosed its plan to hold a test bed opening ceremony including technology demonstration on Thursday, November 14 at Gwangyang Port to verify the automatic loading and unloading of autonomous vehicles for export and import.

 Automobile exports and imports are made via vehicle carriers, and the need to secure proactively maritime logistics technologies for exports and imports—such as automatic loading and unloading—has been raised in preparation for the commercialization of future mobility including fully autonomous vehicles without steering wheels.

 Accordingly, MOF has implemented the project to develop the technology for autonomous vehicles' automatic unloading support systems by investing KRW 13.5 billion in 2021. The project aims to develop automatic loading and unloading technology for fully autonomous vehicles, construct a testbed (3 floors with total floor space of 10,000 m2) that simulates the internal environment of a vehicle carrier, and run field demonstrations.

 The testbed will feature a separate onboard communication environment required for autonomous vehicle operation inside a car carrier where geographic positioning system (GPS) signals are not properly received and demonstrate the automatic loading and unloading of autonomous vehicles based on high-precision digital maps and optimization algorithms over the next two years.

 “The government has supported automobile exports through various means such as securing shipping capacity and expanding storage yards for exported vehicles to ensure the seamless export of automobiles, which are a major export item for Korea. In preparation for the shift to fully autonomous vehicles, we will proactively secure cutting-edge maritime transport technology and lead international standards so that Korea can dominate the future mobility market,” said Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung.