TOPX – Realtime Business Solutions

Introducing the new TOPX Intelligent 3D

rbstopsaus — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:12:34 +0000

Introducing the new TOPX Intelligent 3D

In the past years RBS have been putting great focus on researching and designing new modules and features for our TOS. We have added new and improved AI features such as: Realtime The Digital Twin / Reality 3D Application; Intelligent Equipment Control system; true coordinates to felicitate real-time distance calculation/congestion control; improved GUI and enhanced yard management features. These new product features were on display at TOC Europe 2023 this year at our booth and we are excited to start offering these to our customers.

Our latest product TOPX Intelligent 3D incorporates many features including 3D Digital twin reality, IoT, Cloud, Automation, AI and Integration. And all these technologies. The latest features of this system are never to be seen before in the market and are unique to our TOS. We pride ourselves in being a technological leader, providing our customers with the best and latest software for the container handling industry.

At RBS we believe that the market is constantly hungry for new innovative ideas and new technology, to face the new arising challenges in ports and terminals. Therefore, we are constantly researching and developing the best possible products for our customers with this in mind. We have seen real-life applications of machine learning in terminal planning and decision-making, as well as automation operating on a cloud TOS. With our future and further developments with our latest product we have taken everything into consideration and to the next level. Be one of the first to see our latest product at the upcoming TOC Asia in Singapore 2022.

The Importance of Real-time in a TOS

rbstopsaus — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 06:46:14 +0000

The Importance of Real-time in a TOS

The Container Handling Industry over the years has witnessed many technological breakthroughs while some were futile others were pervasive, creating incredible opportunities for ports and terminals beyond the scope of known capabilities. Automation and the Cloud have been the most substantial technological advancement to date for terminal operating systems, downplaying the significance of real-time control and planning, which supports in-memory and parallel processing.

Improved decision-making abreast enhanced operations implores the need for real-time. Only then can accuracy and precision derive from the decisions made within a terminal. However, building a real-time connection without understanding the very depths of its architecture, represses an accurate depiction. It is vital to differentiate from true real-time and forged real-time as it will assist in identifying key problem areas terminal operators currently face.

What is Real-time?

Transaction Processing Architecture

The term “real-time” has been commonly abused to describe an environment that strays far from its semantics and tends to have contrary constructs representative of transaction processing. An online transaction should not be confused with real-time since the system is oriented in a method that processes data statically and sequentially. As a result, operators cannot work on any tasks or continue the planning process until they have successfully downloaded and retrieved the data from the previous operator on the servers. Transaction processing becomes increasingly complicated when workstation operators receive modified data, forcing the entire planning process to start from the initial stages. Sometimes the planning process continues without realizing the changes until CHEs have already received these instructions that are now deemed redundant, causing system hangs and erroneous moves from ensuing, which eliminates the chance for resource, CHE, and process optimization. Therefore, a transaction-oriented system has a strict structure that is not very reactive to changes, creating inflexibilities over control and removes agility in planning. A system architecture of this type is not feasible for running terminal operations and is not the pragmatic approach for operators who need reliable information to make accurate decisions.

Real-time Architecture

Unlike the conventional TOS, RBS TOPX Expert is built on a true knowledge of real-time architecture, which ensures that data is always in its most updated state. Without interaction, TOPX Expert can be updated continuously, so that information flow is consistent and fast without being prone to fragmentation. The true real-time nature reinforced in TOPX Expert is owed by its unique centralized, single server infrastructure which facilitates parallel processing, allowing an operator to move a container even while another operator is controlling the same container data – a rarity for standard TOS’. As multiple windows and application processes can run in simultaneity, the workload is divided, inherently driving performance targets to new heights.

Although very few understand its true meaning, a system with a genuine real-time environment alerts another operator who intends to use the same data that it is actively used at a different workstation before they even confirm the action. Therefore, all activity conducted during planning to operation stages is registered in the system continuously so that concurrent planners are not using obsolete data. As information in TOPX Expert is always in real-time, any alterations in data are also automatically adjusted accordingly, so every stage of the planning process remains unaffected due to its independence and unique parallel graphic design.

TOPX Expert is conceived from a centralized infrastructure that facilitates real-time processing, which serves as the pillars that streamline processes, optimize resources, and makes accurate decisions. It has also generated core building blocks that ease the integration of new technological advancements like the Cloud, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence and has contributed an expanse in TOPX Expert capabilities. Only due to this architecture is RBS able to break conventional barriers and go beyond the known landscape to create innovations valuable for terminals. Understanding the architecture of your TOS is crucial in determining whether the roadmap can lead you to a prospective future. Your TOS is your future.

The AI I Should Look for in a TOS

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:51:17 +0000

The AI I Should Look for in a TOS

Terminals have the dual duty to assess their overall business operations to depict any flaws and evaluate the best fit terminal operating system that can combat these hotspots. The era of terminals taking a crucial point in the global supply chain is fast approaching, and terminal operators may be facing circumstances that are outside their expertise and capabilities. Autonomous operations abreast the help of artificial intelligence in computing masses of data to determine reliable decisions will come to fruition by all industry experts.

A thriving terminal is reflective of terminal operations which are responsive in the scalability of container throughput while maximizing the use of their existing resources. Therefore, terminal operating systems incorporating true AI capabilities become the intrinsic option when decision-making is very time-consuming and are liable to errors. Turnkey software like TOPX Expert has cultivated the essence of AI which overturns these implications. TOPX Expert leverages greater control for terminal operators since the AI instituted automatically learns from the substantial pool of data and creates algorithms to which the knowledge is applied, and different scenarios are deduced for selection. These scenarios have been determined with the consideration of set parameters to achieve the optimum position, time, and departure for a vessel to berth. Early detections of bottlenecks are also another benefit derived from TOPX Expert as it facilitates forecasting any upcoming constraints, driving greater visibility over operations to make faster decisions. The lead up to the completion of berth planning and scheduling is a complex process that is almost impossible for the human to calculate free from errors, requiring automation and artificial intelligence to cease errors before they even appear. Not only does this indicate AI in berth optimization is necessary but requires real-time data to make accurate decisions which benefit the overall terminal.

AI is introduced to assist in complicated tasks that typically fail to address all set factors optimally, and as a result, inhibits resource-, process-, and operations optimization. All this is only made possible due to the real-time and in-memory architecture allowing for the centralization of data. An environment that provides a centralized space for information flow allows all users, independent of the type of operation, to work on data that is always maintained in its most updated state. This is exceptionally important for berth optimization since all these data fuels AI in inferring the most viable decision without sacrificing efficiency in any area. Another benefit of AI conceived on a real-time architecture is that it enables process agility, allowing operators to make changes to previous tasks without compromising the current operation or the overall process. Challenging the conventional TOS, TOPX Expert is built on a robust architecture that makes automatic changes in real-time, despite when it was made within the process timeline. Outcomes such as the elimination of congestion before and after is rendered as the fore benefit of AI in berth optimization. Therefore, decisions are always achieved with precision in TOPX Expert and remain fully functional even when exposed to drastic changes in data.

All in all, terminal operators have the responsibility to take control and define the most ideal solution that captures the entire spectrum of terminal operations which streamlines processes and delivers efficiency. Common deciding factors when searching for the right TOS derives from short-term goals which have precluded revolutionary technology offered in a quality TOS. Consequently, terminal operators miss the opportunity of meeting better capabilities which drive higher efficiency. Every functionality should always be evaluated and proved against its acclaimed level of AI inherent in the technology to understand what the TOS is truly capable of. Don’t just limit your vision to the present, look ahead, and invest for a future. Click here to find out more factors to look for when researching into AI in a TOS.

Success Story – Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), Tan Cang – Cat Lai, Vietnam

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 00:04:34 +0000

Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), Tan Cang – Cat Lai, Vietnam

SNP is the largest container terminal operator in Vietnam, primarily established for its sea-port operation services. They have remained at the forefront as terminal operators in Vietnam, accounting for more than 92% of the market share in Ho Chi Minh City area and 50% nationwide. A vast portion of this renowned growth is awarded to Tan Cang – Cat Lai terminal, which has developed a consistent increase in container throughput since the installation of RBS TOPS Terminal Operating System in 2008. From 2011 to 2018, the terminal increased its annual container throughput from approximately 2.6M TEUs to 4.7M TEUs.

Tan Cang – Cat Lai Terminal initially deployed TOPX Advance in 2008 as their graphical container planning and control system for port operations. By the end of 2015, they decided to adopt RBS’ TOPO Advance container management system and have since been running the full TOPS terminal operating system. The terminal still accomplished outstanding results from using only a fraction of the features offered in TOPS Advance.

The terminal has ten berths and is equipped with 30 QCs, all of which have been optimized using TOPS Advanced to induce an increase in QCs mph. With this proven solution, terminal capabilities will continue to optimize on resources and operations, which in term will drive further enhancements in performance.

Already, the terminal has achieved a grand milestone of being the largest and most modern international container terminal in Vietnam, located in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. With the TOPS already providing real-time control and planning over terminal-, yard-, and warehousing-activities for free port and transhipment port services, the terminal can expect to achieve new goals taking their presence within the Container Handling Industry to greater heights.

Indonesia – Next Generation Container handling with Konecranes and TOPS

rbstopsaus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:26:04 +0000

The PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero – Pelindo III) terminal operator has implemented the countries first automated container terminal as part of the national infrastructure program. Implementing the Konecranes ARMG equipment with the automation system brings the terminal into the leading automation terminals in the area.

Based on this success also Konecranes has been selected to implement automated rubber tired gantry cranes (ARTGs) at the next automation project at Pelindo III in Semarang. This is the industry’s first ARTG terminal delivered.

Both terminals run the RBS terminal operating system (TOS) with the planning and operation module of TOPS. The TOPX module is fully integrated with the Konecranes automation and works hand-in-Hand.