Stepping into Shandong Port Group's Qingdao Port, the scene reflects technological advancement: high-voltage shore power self-propelled robots glide along preset routes, connecting power interfaces for docked vessels with precision; inside the belt conveyor corridors at grain terminals, intelligent inspection robots methodically check equipment operations. The presence of smart robots is reshaping the port's operational landscape.

In recent years, Qingdao Port has addressed operational challenges by developing and deploying nearly 20 types of intelligent robots, paving a high-quality development path through smart transformation.

Using shore power during berthing is a key green initiative for ports, reducing both fuel consumption and emissions. However, limitations like insufficient cable length, restricted mobility, and complex operations long hindered efficiency.

After much persistence, the R&D team created a new cable winding device with twice the cable capacity of similar products, yet 30 percent smaller — a breakthrough in compact, high-performance design.

Within three months, Qingdao Port's first high-voltage shore power self-propelled robot was operational. It maneuvers easily in narrow spaces between quay cranes and ships, enabling quick and precise cable connections even with docking deviations.

In 2025 alone, these robots completed over 200 ship connection operations, with a utilization rate exceeding 60 percent. This helped the automated terminal's annual shore power usage surpass 6 million kilowatt-hours — an increase of more than 85 percent year-on-year. Notably, this innovation has been adopted by multiple ports across China, offering a replicable solution for nationwide port green transformation.

As a vivid example of a century-old port's evolution — from manual operations to robotic precision, from traditional tallying to smart identification, and from experience-based inspections to data-driven alerts — Qingdao Port's intelligent exploration is helping China become a transportation powerhouse, revitalizing its role on the global shipping stage.

Qingdao Port addresses operational challenges by developing and deploying intelligent robots. [Photo/Guanhai News]