Bringing autonomy to port logistics

Container terminals are under pressure

Container terminals worldwide are under pressure from growing cargo volumes, driver shortages, and rising operational costs. Horizontal transport (moving containers between quay cranes, storage yards, and gate areas), remains a critical operational challenge relying on manually operated tractors.  Automation helps overcome this bottleneck by streamlining flows, enhancing safety, and supporting drivers and ground personnel, enabling smoother and more predictable operations. Embotech’s Autonomous Terminal Tractor (ATTs) address these challenges by offering an automated 24/7 solution for container movement. Designed for seamless integration into existing infrastructure, ATTs increase yard throughput, enhance safety, and provide a scalable path to full terminal automation.

Complex industrial environments come with their own challenges

In yard operations, deploying autonomous tractors comes with a unique set of challenges that go far beyond standard road conditions. Cranes and towering stacks of containers often block the sky, leading to poor GNSS reception and reduced positioning accuracy. At the same time, the environment itself is largely featureless, with few stable landmarks to support localization, and nearly every object in the yard, from cranes to container stacks, is constantly moving or being rearranged. Adding to this complexity is the dense mix of traffic, where autonomous tractors must safely and efficiently interact with a continuous flow of other vehicles operating in close quarters. For this type of operation, however, the bar is even higher: centimeter-level positioning accuracy is required to execute the complex maneuvers necessary for handling containers in such a dynamic environment.

Overcoming the real-world challenges with advanced perception

To meet the challenges of automating container yards, Embotech applies its advanced perception and control technology, complemented by Exwayz’ high-precision, real-time positioning software powered by 3D LiDAR. The process starts with creating a detailed 3D map of the terminal, which is then used to define the routes for the tractors. Once in operation, Exwayz’s embedded software allows each tractor to know its exact location on the map with cm-level accuracy, even in areas with poor or unavailable GNSS coverage  and amid constantly moving objects, and few static landmarks. Embotech’s control system integrates these localization inputs, which then safely navigates the tractor to its destination. This level of precision unlocks complex maneuvers that are essential in container yards, such as driving under cranes or reverse parking with consistently accurate positioning.

Already deployed on real-world operations

In 2026, APMT will deploy 30 Autonomous Terminal Tractors at their MVII Terminal in Rotterdam,  demonstrating how Embotech’s autonomous technology delivers safe, efficient, and scalable container transport, with support from Exwayz’s precise positioning software.