Digital technologies automate placement of cars in shipping containers

Working with Warwickshire-based manufacturer Trans-Rak International (TRI), Piero Filippin, innovation manager at WMG at the University of Warwick, has created a system that automates the placement of cars in a shipping container, allowing for any combination of make or model.

The software operates a car racking system produced by TRI, and the combined technologies could lead to savings for the global automotive industry, enabling more cars to fit into fewer containers, as they are transported across the world.

Currently, an average of two cars can be stored in each container but that capacity would be doubled using the new system.

The software generates recommendations on any number of cars, of different makes and models, to be stored in the most efficient possible combination and position.

Users select the number of cars, as well as which makes/models, they wish to transport. A numerical process simulates numerous loading scenarios, and generates a report of the most efficient combination of cars in each container, plus their exact positioning.