Application of Solidot remote I/O modules at port docks

As is well known, China has built a world-class port cluster, with port scale ranking among the top in the world. Since ports serve as an important window connecting the world, related infrastructure and talent cultivation are particularly crucial. Port skills competitions are held at various ports every year, aiming to enhance the ports' software and hardware strength through skills exchange. It is precisely for this reason that world-class unmanned terminals represented by Qingdao port have been established.

Taking the 34th skills competition of Qingdao port as an example, Solidot's remote I/O modules also played an important role. The products' stable and outstanding performance helped the port complete the simulation of actual working environments, safeguarding the contestants throughout the entire process.

Basic technical requirements for port terminal automation

▲ port overview

The competition set up four events: "Setting Sail (Container Retrieval)", "Flowing Water (Navigating Narrow Passages)", "Riding the Waves (Penalty Shots and Piling)", and "Steadfast as a Mountain (Container Placement and Target Shooting)", mainly simulating the multi-purpose container handling process of gantry cranes. Additionally, upright poles, electronic boundaries, basketballs, wooden piles, supports, and other equipment were set up to realistically simulate actual obstacles in the process, fully testing contestants' operational skills and psychological resilience under multi-purpose handling conditions.

1. "Setting Sail (Container Retrieval)" event: This event tests the contestants' overall observation ability during the container retrieval process by controlling the container spreader to grasp the target container.

2. "Flowing Water (Navigating Narrow Passages)" event: This event requires operating the gantry crane to move the suspended container through narrow passages and shoot basketballs in the area into hoops, testing whether contestants possess proficient operating skills and strong psychological resilience when facing changing paths.

3. "Riding the Waves (Penalty Shots and Piling)" event: This event requires using specific areas of the container to collide with wooden piles and basketballs of different heights, thereby simulating in-container operations, testing contestants' refined operation capability under scenarios with obstacles on both sides.

4. "Steadfast as a Mountain (Container Placement and Target Shooting)" event: This event requires placing containers sequentially on the container placement platform and target shooting platform, thereby simulating the container loading process, testing whether contestants possess the ability to transport steadily and position accurately when operating the spreader and gantry crane.

Electrical control design principles for port terminal automation

1 standard 20-foot container; the yellow area is the designated pile-impact area, which is 400 mm long and 200 mm high

configuration description of Solidot remote I/O

(1) Over-edge detection and over-height detection: Two photoelectric through-beam sensors are installed at 700 mm and 1300 mm, and a digital signal is set at 20 mm from the through-beam distance under strong sunlight, connected to the Solidot Slice I/O moduleXB6-CB2002ST+32-point inputXB6-3200A. If an over-edge condition occurs, the 32-point outputXB6-0032A activates the control alarm light, and simultaneously a signal is sent to the main cabinet PLC via the CC-Link IE Field Basic network to notify the host computer for counting, after which the large screen makes corresponding deductions.

(2) Boundary detection: Laser radar and diffuse reflection photoelectric sensors are used for control. The digital signal is likewise connected to the 32-point inputXB6-3200A and 32-point outputXB6-0032A, and a signal is sent to the main cabinet PLC via the CC-Link IE Field Basic network.

(3) Others: The start, stop, alarm, and photoelectric detection signals of the main cabinet are connected to the Solidot integrated I/O moduleCB4-1616A to provide auxiliary support.

[PLC Program configuration diagram]

Configuration of Solidot integrated I/O moduleCB4-1616A and Slice I/O moduleXB6-CB2002ST in the CC-Link IE Field Basic network in Mitsubishi GX-Works3 software:

▲ Mitsubishi GX-Works3 CC-Link IE Field Basic diagram

In Mitsubishi GX-Works3 software, the CC-Link IE Field Basic network is used to collect I/O signals. The program programming is shown below:

▲ Program diagram in Mitsubishi GX-Works3

The information large-screen display is shown in the figure below.

▲ Large-screen display

Solidot remote I/O modules, with their unique design advantages, delivered an optimal solution for this application. On site, only a 24 V power cable and one network cable are required for connection and operation, simplifying cabling and facilitating installation.

In addition, since a large number of I/O signals need to be acquired on site, this application uses Solidot integrated I/O modulesCB4-1616A, Slice I/O modulesXB6-CB2002ST, 32-point inputXB6-3200A, and 32-point outputXB6-0032A modules working together. This not only satisfies signal transmission requirements reliably and smoothly, but also leverages the rich product line to help the customer achieve the dual benefits of flexible configuration and cost reduction with increased efficiency.