Process control and artificial vision technology specialist OrbitaIngenieriahas launched an optical character recognition (OCR) system to automate freight container identification and damage inspection during vessel loading and unloading at port terminals.

The OrbitaCraneOCR system provides real-time ISO code recognition for 20ft, 40ft, 45ft and twin-20ft containers as they are moved to and from multiple lanes under and behind ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes. The company says that acquiring OCR data ‘on the fly’ in this way allows terminal operators to automate container identification on the quayside with minimal infrastructure – as few as four cameras are required – and no impact on STS crane cycle times. In-motion data capture is made possible by the use of the latest pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras, combined with advanced software algorithms to locate and follow the container in movement. CraneOCR works at accuracy levels of 95% and above, Orbita said.

As well as allowing users to identify container numbers, CraneOCR integrates with STS crane programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to record other key information such as container size and weight, plus spreader and twistlock position. The system also captures still images and videos for damage inspection and control. Additional functions, including automatic detection of door direction, are planned for the near future.

“With the launch of CraneOCR, we close the circle by providing integrated tracking of container movements both at the land and sea gates,” said Francisco GrauCavanillas, Account Manager Ports and Terminals at Orbita.

“The system is now working successfully in live operational tests at Valencia, the Mediterranean’s largest container port, and we’re gathering critical data every day to continuously refine the product. Now, our offer to terminals is more powerful in terms of container process control, along with other engineering services that we can provide.”

OrbitaIngenieria launches OCR system for gantry cranes