Application of Solidot remote I/O modules at port docks

As is well known, China has built a world-class port cluster, with its port scale ranking among the top in the world. Since ports serve as an important window connecting to the world, the development of related infrastructure and talent is especially important. Port skills competitions are held every year at various ports, aiming to enhance the software and hardware strength of ports through skills exchange. This has given rise to world-class unmanned terminals represented by Qingdao Port.

Taking the 34th Qingdao Port skills competition plan as an example, Shidian Technology's remote I/O modules also played an important role. The product's stable and outstanding performance helped the port simulate the actual working environment, providing full support for the competitors throughout the event.

Basic technical requirements for port terminal automation

▲ Port overview diagram

The competition consists of four stages: "Setting Sail (Container Pickup)", "Smooth Sailing (Navigating the Passage)", "Riding the Waves (Scoring and Pile Driving)", and "Steady as a Mountain (Container Placement and Target Shooting)". These stages mainly simulate the multi-purpose container operation process of a gantry crane. Poles, electronic boundaries, basketballs, wooden piles, brackets and other equipment are also set up to realistically simulate the obstacles present in actual operations, fully testing the operating skills and psychological qualities of competitors under multi-purpose operating conditions.

1. "Setting Sail (Container Pickup)" stage: this stage tests competitors' overall observation ability during container pickup by controlling the container spreader to grab the target container.

2. "Smooth Sailing (Navigating the Passage)" stage: this stage requires operating the gantry crane to control the suspended container through a narrow passage and throw the basketball in the area into the hoop, testing whether competitors have skilled operating techniques and strong psychological qualities when facing changing paths.

3. "Riding the Waves (Scoring and Pile Driving)" stage: this stage requires using a specific area of the container to hit wooden piles and basketballs of different heights, simulating operations inside a container hold, testing competitors' fine operating skills in scenarios with obstacles on both sides.

4. "Steady as a Mountain (Container Placement and Target Shooting)" stage: this stage requires placing the container on the placement platform and the target platform in sequence, simulating the container loading process, testing whether competitors have the ability to transport steadily and position accurately when operating the spreader and gantry crane.

Electrical control design principles for port terminal automation

One 20-foot standard container; the yellow area is the specific pile-hitting zone, which is 400 mm long and 200 mm high.

Configuration description of Shidian Technology's remote I/O

(1) Boundary-exceeding detection and height-exceeding detection: two photoelectric sensor pairs are installed at 700 mm and 1300 mm, and a digital signal is set at a sensing distance of 20 mm under strong sunlight, connected to Shidian Technology's Slice I/O module XB6-CB2002ST + 32-channel input XB6-3200A. If the boundary is exceeded, the alarm light is turned on via the 32-channel output XB6-0032A, and a signal is simultaneously sent to the main cabinet PLC via the CC-Link IE Field Basic network, notifying the host computer to count, after which the corresponding points are deducted on the large screen.

(2) Boundary detection: controlled using LiDAR and diffuse reflection photoelectric sensors. The digital signal is likewise connected to the 32-channel input XB6-3200A and 32-channel output XB6-0032A, sending a signal to the main cabinet PLC via the CC-Link IE Field Basic network.

(3) Others: the startup, stop, alarm, and photoelectric detection signals of the main cabinet are connected to Shidian Technology's Integrated I/O module CB4-1616A for auxiliary completion.

[PLC program configuration diagram]

Configuration of Shidian Technology's Integrated I/O module CB4-1616A and Slice I/O module XB6-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 is shown in the figure below:

▲ Program diagram in Mitsubishi GX-Works3

The information display screen is shown in the figure below.

▲ Large screen display

Real Point Technology's remote I/O module, with its unique product design advantages, provided an excellent solution for this case. On site, only a 24 V DC power cable and a network cable are needed for connection and use, making wiring simple and installation convenient.

In addition, since a large number of I/O signals need to be collected on site, this case uses Real Point Technology's Integrated I/O Module CB4-1616A, Slice I/O Module XB6-CB2002ST, 32-channel Inputs XB6-3200A, 32-channel Outputs XB6-0032A working together, not only stably and smoothly meeting the signal transmission requirements, but also, with its rich product line, helping customers achieve the dual benefits of flexible configuration and cost reduction with efficiency improvement.