Automated transfer of containers for multimodal transportation

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining, by a computer, first attribute data of a transportation vehicle, second attribute data of a container on a carrier vehicle, first position data of the transportation vehicle, and second position data of the carrier vehicle;

authenticating, by the computer, the transportation vehicle for container transfer of the container, wherein the authenticating the transportation vehicle is based on the first attribute data and the second attribute data;

generating, by the computer, a transfer trajectory between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle, based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the transfer trajectory is associated with the container;

controlling, by the computer, an electromechanical platform to movably extend in a space between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle to create a transfer path for the container;

identifying, by the computer, a set of mini vehicles from a plurality of mini vehicles, based on the second attribute data of the container; and

controlling, by the computer, each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to move the container from the carrier vehicle to the transportation vehicle along the electromechanical platform, based on the transfer trajectory.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, by the computer, control commands based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the control commands define maneuvers for at least one of the transportation vehicle or the carrier vehicle to align the transportation vehicle with the container.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second attribute data comprises a physical size of the container, and wherein the identifying the set of mini vehicles from the plurality of mini vehicles further comprises:

determining, by the computer, a plurality of attach points on the container based on the physical size of the container; and

determining, by the computer, a count of the set of mini vehicles based on a count of the plurality of attach points on the container.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the controlling each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles further comprises:

controlling, by the computer, each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to align with a corresponding attach point of the plurality of attach points on the container;

determining, by the computer, an individual trajectory for each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles based on the transfer trajectory and the corresponding attach point of the plurality of attach points on the container; and

controlling, by the computer, a motion of each mini vehicle of the set of aligned mini vehicles based on a corresponding individual trajectory.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second attribute data comprises a physical weight of the container, and wherein the identifying the set of mini vehicles from the plurality of mini vehicles further comprises:

determining, by the computer, a load carrying capacity of each mini vehicle of the plurality of mini vehicles;

filtering, by the computer, the plurality of mini vehicles based on the load carrying capacity of each mini vehicle of the plurality of mini vehicles and the physical weight of the container; and

outputting, by the computer, a plurality of filtered mini vehicles as the set of mini vehicles for the container transfer.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles is based on at least one state parameter of at least one mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles, and wherein the at least one state parameter is associated with dynamics of the at least one mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating, by the computer, a threshold condition associated with a mobility of the at least one mini vehicle based on at least one physical attribute of the at least one mini vehicle and the second attribute data of the container; and

detecting, by the computer, an anomaly associated with the mobility of the at least one mini vehicle based on the at least one state parameter violating the threshold condition.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the computer, transfer record data for the container based on movement of the container from the carrier vehicle to the transportation vehicle; and

updating, by the computer, a transfer log database based on the transfer record data.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first attribute data is associated with at least one of a first physical dimension of the transportation vehicle or a first identifier of the transportation vehicle, and wherein the second attribute data is associated with at least one of a second physical dimension of the container or a second identifier of the container.

10 . A computer system, comprising:

a processor set;

one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions executable by the processor set to cause the processor set to:

obtain first attribute data of a transportation vehicle, second attribute data of a container on a carrier vehicle, first position data of the transportation vehicle, and second position data of the carrier vehicle;

authenticate the transportation vehicle for container transfer of the container, wherein the authentication is based on the first attribute data and the second attribute data;

generate a transfer trajectory between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle, based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the transfer trajectory is associated with the container;

control an electromechanical platform to movably extend in a space between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle to create a transfer path for the container;

identify a set of mini vehicles from a plurality of mini vehicles, based on the second attribute data of the container; and

control each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to move the container from the carrier vehicle to the transportation vehicle along the electromechanical platform, based on the transfer trajectory.

11 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further cause the processor set to generate control commands based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the control commands define maneuvers for at least one of the transportation vehicle or the carrier vehicle to align the transportation vehicle with the container.

12 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the second attribute data comprises a physical size of the container, and wherein to identify the set of mini vehicles from the plurality of mini vehicles, the program instructions further cause the processor set to:

determine a plurality of attach points on the container based on the physical size of the container; and

determine a count of the set of mini vehicles based on a count of the plurality of attach points on the container.

13 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein to control each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles, the program instructions further cause the processor set to:

control each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to align with a corresponding attach point of the plurality of attach points on the container;

determine an individual trajectory for each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles based on the transfer trajectory and the corresponding attach point of the plurality of attach points on the container; and

control a motion of each mini vehicle of the set of aligned mini vehicles based on a corresponding individual trajectory.

14 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the second attribute data comprises a physical weight of the container, and wherein to identify the set of mini vehicles among from the plurality of mini vehicles, the program instructions further cause the processor set to:

determine a load carrying capacity of each mini vehicle of the plurality of mini vehicles;

filter the plurality of mini vehicles, based on the load carrying capacity of each mini vehicle of the plurality of mini vehicles and the physical weight of the container; and

output the plurality of filtered mini vehicles as the set of mini vehicles for the container transfer.

15 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further cause the processor set to control, each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to move the container along the electromechanical platform, based on at least one state parameter of at least one mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles, and wherein the at least one state parameter is associated with dynamics of the at least one mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions further cause the processor set to:

generate a threshold condition associated with a mobility of the at least one mini vehicle based on at least one physical attribute of the at least one mini vehicle and the second attribute data of the container; and

detect an anomaly associated with the mobility of the at least one mini vehicle based on a violation of the threshold condition by the at least one state parameter.

17 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further cause the processor set to:

generate transfer record data for the container based on movement of the container from the carrier vehicle to the transportation vehicle; and

update a transfer log database based on the transfer record data.

18 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the first attribute data is associated with at least one of a first physical dimension of the transportation vehicle or a first identifier of the transportation vehicle, and wherein the second attribute data is associated with at least one of a second physical dimension of the container or a second identifier of the container.

19 . A computer-program product for an automated transfer of a container from a carrier vehicle to a transportation vehicle, the computer-program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media to perform operations comprising:

obtaining first attribute data of the transportation vehicle, second attribute data of the container, first position data of the transportation vehicle, and second position data of the carrier vehicle;

authenticating the transportation vehicle for the automated transfer of the container, wherein the authenticating the transportation vehicle is based on the first attribute data and the second attribute data;

generating a transfer trajectory between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle, based on the first position data and the second position data, wherein the transfer trajectory is associated with the container;

controlling an electromechanical platform to movably extend in a space between the carrier vehicle and the transportation vehicle to create a transfer path for the container;

identifying a set of mini vehicles from a plurality of mini vehicles, based on the second attribute data of the container; and

controlling each mini vehicle of the set of mini vehicles to move the container from the carrier vehicle to the transportation vehicle along the electromechanical platform, based on the transfer trajectory.

20 . The computer-program product of claim 19 , wherein the first attribute data is associated with at least one of a first physical dimension of the transportation vehicle or a first identifier of the transportation vehicle, and wherein the second attribute data is associated with at least one of a second physical dimension of the container or a second identifier of the container.