Automated underground transportation of cargo the 5th transportation alternative for the transport of goods in congested urban areas www.cargocap.com
W H At I S C A r G O C A P? the Problem Barely 150 years ago, our ancestors were forced to build an area-wide underground pipeline system to collect and drain off sewage, in order to protect and improve the general population s health and quality of life. Today again we face a similar, essential decision on the future direction. Again, the health of the population is at risk. Germs causing cholera coming from the sewage drained off above ground may be substituted for exhaust gases (amongst others CO2...), particulate matters and noise emissions from road vehicles; all these are health hazards. Our quality of life is steadily declining due to constantly increasing truck traffic, impaired mobility as a result of overloaded roads, or the inability to satisfy needs related to health, rest and recreation that cannot be satisfied any longer in towns and cities. However, our modern economy based on division of labour cannot work properly without effective transport and logistics services. Especially in congested urban areas, as e.g. the Ruhr area in Germany, traditionally grown traffic infrastructures cannot meet the increasing and changed transport service requirements. Thus, new solutions are urgently required. 2
W H At I S C A r G O C A P? the present situation: the road as a transportation route has reached the limit of its capacity. Serious traffi c jams and delays combined with noise, emissions, or particulate matter emissions and constitute a high risk potential. the solution: goods are transported underground rather than on the road, without the negative side effects of truck traffi c. underground into the Centre - Via CargoCap CargoCap is the 5th transportation alternative to roads, rails, water and air to transport goods fully automated through underground transport pipeline systems in congested urban areas rapidly, economically, reliably and eco-friendly. Goods are transported underground rather than on the road. Fully automated transport vehicles, the so-called Caps, travel in underground pipelines with a diameter of only 2.00 metres, loaded with two euro-pallets each. For direct connection, the cargo will be delivered directly to the recipient, or to the immediate vicinity of a station by means of connection logistics with delivery vehicles. Only these stations provide connection to the surface. They may be located either right in the city centres near huge stores, or immediately at the assembly line of a factory. Especially in congested urban areas, this serves to disburden roads of increasing goods traffic and to reduce environment-related problems without claiming landscape. transport vehicles, so-called Caps, travel in underground transport pipelines with a diameter of only 2.00 m. 3
t H e t e C H N O LO GY O F C A r G O C A P each Cap has a capacity of two euro-pallets according to CCG1 with an extended load height of 1.25 m. Installation of transport pipelines is carried out underground by means of pipe jacking. Logistics System Due to its underground transport pipeline system, CargoCap is independent of, and unaffected by, other traffic infrastructure, traffic jams and weather conditions. Transports are performed via computer-controlled Caps with a holding capacity of two euro-pallets each. The euro-pallet is a standardised, tried and tested load carrier. Its use guarantees an easy implementation of CargoCap into already existing supply chains. A high freight- and allocation flexibility is warranted by loading only two euro-pallets onto a Cap. Consumer and investment items, bulk goods, cargo, production components, building material, parcel and express freight, as well as food and allied products rank among the goods that may be transported via CargoCap. Construction of the transport Pipeline System The route of the CargoCap system consists of pipelines like those used to drain off sewage. The transport pipelines are installed in public streets next to, under, or above already existing supply and disposal lines, electric cables, telecommunication cables, metro or underground crossings, and other underground constructions. As a general rule, the depth will be 6 to 8 m. Installation of transport pipelines is carried out underground by means of pipe jacking. This eco-friendly method of construction for pipelines is one of the standard techniques in pipeline construction, and currently becoming more and more important due to latest monitoring and control methods. The space above ground required during construction is small. Residents and traffi c are not disturbed. Damage to adjacent constructions, trees, plant cover and pipelines is avoided. The transport pipelines will be equipped with tracks for the Caps, contact-free energy supply, information technology, as well as RFID transponders to locate the Caps. 4
t H e t e C H N O LO GY O F C A r G O C A P Length 4000 mm Width 1400 mm Height 1600 mm Weight empty 800 kg Payload max. 1500 kg Maximum speed 11 m/s (39,6 km/h) Average speed 10 m/s (36 km/h) Track gauge 800 mm Slope max. 3% Fully automated, horizontal conveyors load and unload Caps. technical Specifi cations of the Caps Vehicle technology The aerodynamically optimised Caps travel on rails through the underground transport pipeline system, fully automated and autonomically. They are driven by electric motors at a speed of 36 km/h. This transportation speed is kept constantly, resulting in a considerable reduction of transport time compared to a truck in the congested urban area. Energy supply of Caps is contact-free, and therefore maintenance-free. In sections of the CargoCap transport network with heavier traffic, several Caps are aligned to travel one after another in close intervals (platoon). This is made possible through an innovative switch concept and special design of passive junctions. Caps feature an active switch module and define the driving direction autonomously. Conveyor technique Both underground stations and stations above ground serve as a reloading point of palletised goods. They may be located where reloading is carried out by means of conventional traffic up to now, e.g. in hubs on the outskirts of congested urban areas, or immediately where the customer needs the goods. Conventional conveyor technique is used to load and unload goods. The roll conveyors available in the vehicle directly connect to the roll conveyors of the station. Then, vertical- or horizontal conveyors forward the pallets straight to their destination, in an industrial enterprise directly to the assembly line, or in a store directly into the store or sales room, for example. In service, CargoCap does not affect the environment through noise or through emissions. 5
F u t u r e You cannot see, hear or smell CargoCap. Advantages Operation Automated Eco-friendly Energy-saving Efficient Flexible Precise, just-in-time and just-in-case Independent of weather conditions Safe 99 Autonomous and independent of scarce traffic capacities above ground Feasibility Study Due to overcrowded roads, the conventional supply of the producing economy, trade and consumers is only possible in connection with above-average and time-dependent costs. Apart from positive effects for the environment, a flexible, freely scaleable and safe transport system creates possible savings for logistics. According to the hitherto existing feasibility studies, customers of CargoCap will profit from these advantages, so there is an increased incentive to use this innovative system. Already today, standardised components and construction methods are used and newly combined to install CargoCap, so that construction and operating costs may be calculated reliably. In determining the variables affecting net income, which may only be estimated in the present market potential analysis for the Ruhr area, conservative assumptions are taken into consideration regarding relevant quantities of goods, freight rates, future price developments, or the selection of interesting types of goods. Future synergy effects in case of network expansions are not even taken into account yet. Advantages Construction and Realisation Immediately realisable Expandable Eco-friendly Space-saving Innovative Legal Situation The implementation of good ideas very often fails, especially in Germany, due to legal reasons. Cargo- Cap is an infrastructure project with a comparatively low legal potential for conflict. As it is neither a road, railway, power line, nor a pipeline project, none of the existing requirements for official approval of plans apply. This means that neither the complex procedures nor the challenging material criteria of planning law need be considered. Only the general framework of space, project planning, building regulations and environmental law must be adhered to, and terms of use have to be specified with the responsible coordinating construction planning engineers, or with property owners in individual cases. From a legal point of view, the infrastructure project captivates not only as an idea, but also because it is easy to implement. 6
F u t u r e Scientists of the ruhr university Bochum, Germany test the new logistic system on a 160-metre model track. A great vision becomes reality Model track A model track was built by the Chair for Machine Elements and Materials Handling of the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany on a scale of 1:2 on the premises of the RWE AG power plant in Bochum. This is a big step towards a realisation of CargoCap. A pilot operation comparable to real operation is tested and optimised there. The experimental design includes controlling, communicating, locating, as well as headway control and the formation of transport organisations inclusive of the switch technology of the Caps and all relevant mechatronic aspects. The results of the experiment form the basis for commissioning CargoCap. CargoCap the Green Goods transportation of the Future Safeguarding goods traffi c is an essential general requirement for the economic development of a region suffering from serious traffi c-related problems. An intensification of the situation is foreseeable in future. A sustainable and economic mobility concept is only possible with essentially new and innovative solutions. In the process, its simple implementation into traditional traffi c systems and logistics concepts is of essential importance. CargoCap meets these requirements and may be used where hitherto applied systems have met their performance limit. Furthermore, it is eco- and citizenfriendly and can be implemented quickly, both from a technical and a legal point of view. 7
CargoCap is supported by CargoCap was awarded Selected Landmark by the initiative Germany Land of Ideas (www.land-of-ideas.org). CargoCap belongs to the 100 products of the future - groundbreaking ideas that will change our lives For more information please contact: CargoCap GmbH Konrad-Zuse-Str. 6 44801 Bochum GERMANY Phone: +49 234 5167-0 Fax: +49 234 5167-109 E-mail: office@cargocap.com Internet: http://www.cargocap.com www.cargocap.com