As a pioneer seaport in digital transformation, the Da Nang Port has achieved many successes when applying Electronic Port software (ePORT) and Automatic Container Gate (Auto Gate). Recently, the port has researched and successfully applied industrial signal transmission and reception equipment for tractors - eTractor.

The device is installed on a container truck. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

In reality today at seaports, container lifting equipment is often equipped with vehicle mounted computers (VMC) with an average price of over VND 100 million/device. However, the number of tractors is always many times larger than the number of lifting equipment. Some ports can have up to hundreds of vehicles.

Faced with those challenges, since November 2022, the Da Nang Port Information Technology Department has begun researching and successfully testing industrial equipment called eTractor. Under this project, the Da Nang Port plays the role of both the design unit and the production management unit, assembling both hardware and software.

According to Mr. Tran Le Tuan, the General Director of the Da Nang Port, from July 2023, the port will officially introduce 50 industrial signal transmission and reception devices for tractors (eTractor) into the container exploitation line with a cost of about 20% compared to VMC but with higher durability, helping the Da Nang Port save at least 4 billion VND in a 3-year cycle.

eTractor is designed to drive completely without touching the device (no need to log in and implement network connection operations and touch interaction...) so that the eTractor can be installed at a distance, in arbitrary positions in the cabin, making it easier to observe work information.

At the same time, the eTractor is connected to the tractor so that the driver only needs to turn the key on for the device to operate, and turn off the key means stopping operation. This is something that devices with major operating systems such as Android and Windows are not recommended to do because it can easily cause device damage.

When there is new job data, the machine screen will turn on brightly with a beep. After a few seconds, the device will moderately reduce the brightness to adapt to the environmental brightness for easy viewing when needed, helping to reduce energy consumption as well as increase the life of the device. This makes eTractor user-friendly and increases labour safety when using information technology equipment in the mining line.

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN - Translating by A.THU