The rise of "underground logistics": let your express delivery shuttle underground

Lying at home like Ge You, with express delivery automatically delivered to your door... This scene must be what thousands of "homebodies" are looking forward to! And this day is quietly approaching.

The first Xiong'an Urban Logistics Development Forum, hosted by the Urban Intelligent Logistics Research Institute (Xiong'an), was held in Xiong'an New Area. At the forum, experts discussed topics such as exploring the application scenarios of intelligent logistics, digital logistics, and space logistics in urban planning and construction in the era of big data, including "underground logistics".

Build underground logistics system to release transportation capacity

When discussing intelligent logistics, "underground logistics" is always a hot topic that cannot be avoided. This forward-looking concept and plan has always attracted widespread attention from people inside and outside the industry.

As the president of Magnetic Aircraft Technologies in the United States believes: "If water, gas and oil can be transported through underground pipelines, why can't logistics?"

What is the urban underground logistics system?

The underground logistics system refers to a new concept of transportation and supply system that uses carrying tools such as automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) and dual-purpose trucks (DMTs) to transport solid goods through large-diameter underground pipelines, tunnels and other transportation routes.

In short, it is to build a relatively complete logistics and transportation system underground, which is interconnected with hubs such as warehousing and logistics centers and community distribution centers.

Once implemented, underground logistics will bring many benefits to cities and residents: relieving traffic congestion, delivering goods around the clock regardless of weather conditions, and delivering goods directly to homes to bring a convenient experience...

From the ground to underground, how should the underground logistics system be constructed?

According to reports, there are three operating modes for building an underground logistics system: independent planning and design of the urban underground logistics system, coupling of the urban above-ground and underground integrated freight network , and subway-based underground freight system.

Independent planning and design can maximize the use of underground space, but the cost is high; the underground freight system based on the subway needs to incorporate the subway into the construction layout of the underground freight network. At present, it seems that the widely recognized implementation scenario is the coupling of the ground and underground integrated freight network, which has higher safety and lower transportation costs.

The coupling of the ground and underground integrated freight network refers to combining the ground freight network with the underground freight network, such as connecting the logistics center and the distribution center on the ground through underground pipe corridors. According to estimates, in the coupled network, the risk cost of freight safety accidents will drop by nearly 45% compared with ground road transportation, and the use of the coupled network, compared with the separate ground road transportation or underground logistics system, the transportation cost is reduced by nearly 30% and 10% respectively.

Large-scale application of underground logistics in foreign cities has already been carried out

In fact, "underground logistics" is not a new term. Since the 1990s, foreign countries have begun to study underground logistics systems. In 1983, the earliest English paper on underground logistics was published abroad. After that, the number of papers was relatively low; the number increased from 2007 to 2014, but it has remained at an average of about 4 per year. In 2017 and 2018, the number of papers reached 10, indicating that some research results have been achieved in the field of underground logistics internationally, and it has initially shown a trend of becoming a hot research issue.

Among them, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and other countries are keen on "underground logistics" research.

As early as 1927, London, England had underground logistics, with postal transportation carried out in tunnels.

In January 1996, the Netherlands began to study an underground logistics system connecting Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Aslwmeer Flower Market and Hoofddorp Railway Transfer Station. The system was finally completed and put into operation in 2004.

Since 1998, Germany has built an underground freight system from Cologne to Dortmund, which is about 80 kilometers long. The system is driven by three AC motors, with a pipeline diameter of 2 meters and a speed of 36 kilometers per hour.

Germany currently uses the Cargocap underground pipeline logistics distribution system. The transportation vehicle is designed according to the principles of aerodynamics. Rollers are used underneath to bear the load, and guide wheels are installed on the side to control the running trajectory. The required auxiliary devices are directly installed in the pipeline.

In 2017, Switzerland proposed the Cargo Sous Terrain underground logistics system ( CST ) to improve urban traffic congestion. CST mainly consists of a tunnel system between the city center and the logistics center, an urban logistics system, and an IT control system, applying advanced IT technology to the logistics process.

It is understood that the first phase of the CST project requires an investment of more than 3.5 billion Swiss francs. It is expected that the construction of a pipeline about 70 kilometers long from Nidbip to Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, will be completed in 2030, and construction work will begin in 2023.

According to Switzerland's underground logistics plan, inside the tunnel, unmanned autonomous vehicles travel on three lanes at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Unmanned vehicles carry pallets for transportation, and on the tunnel roof, three conveyors can transport small packages at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. At the same time, hubs distributed along the route can serve as interfaces with other means of transportation.

Magnetic power technology adds fuel to Xiong'an's exploration of underground logistics

The forum learned that the research on underground logistics in the Rongdong area of ​​Xiong'an started in August 2018. At present, the underground logistics system has begun to be planned, two types of urban distribution networks have been simulated in the case area, and the underground space environment has also entered the planning stage.

"If a city with a population of 1 million moves 42% of its logistics underground, it could reduce the number of trucks passing through the city by 8,000 to 10,000 per day and reduce traffic accidents by about 30%";

"Magnetic levitation lift + building self-pickup cabinet can save 30% of the courier's time going upstairs";

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These are the research and development results of the Xiongan Urban Intelligent Logistics Research Institute in the past year. JD Logistics, as the technical leader of the institute and the first logistics company in China to develop underground logistics space, also demonstrated on site the entire process of express delivery through the underground transportation system, connecting the terminal distribution station and the building, and the building's vertical lifting system to reach every household.

It is understood that JD Logistics has put a lot of effort into developing the "underground logistics" tactics, from entering into a strategic cooperation with the American magnetic aircraft technology company Magplane Technology early last year to developing magnetic levitation pipeline technology, to initiating the establishment of the Urban Intelligent Logistics Research Institute (Xiong'an).

Regarding JD.com’s underground logistics corridor concept, we have to mention the core technologies involved - magnetic levitation and direct-drive magnetic power technology.

I believe everyone is familiar with the "maglev" technology. Shanghai and Changsha in my country each have a maglev train. "Magnetic levitation" technology refers to a technology that uses magnetic force to overcome gravity to levitate objects. Because it does not rely on traditional fossil fuels such as coal and oil, there is no harmful exhaust gas emission; in addition, the contactless magnetic operation mode also means no noise pollution.

Ultra-high speed, no noise, zero pollution... Once applied, this technology can greatly improve warehouse operation efficiency and reduce energy consumption. However, there are many technical challenges to overcome, such as how to ensure a stable and safe operation speed of over 500 kilometers per hour.

The dream of underground logistics is beautiful, but for densely populated and long-built cities like Beijing and Shanghai, it is difficult to realize both underground passages and building renovations. Xiong'an, which is planned to build a "city of the future", has left ample space for underground development, including underground logistics space.

At the forum, Zhao Bin, general manager of JD Logistics' Urban Planning Business Department, also proposed a vision: using underground pipe corridors to automatically connect with buildings to achieve full-process automated flow of goods, and setting up self-pickup cabinets according to households to facilitate customers to pick up items.

If all the ideas can be realized, packages may be transported like capsule-like unmanned vehicles through underground tunnels or large-diameter pipes, connecting urban logistics centers and supermarkets, warehouses, industrial parks, and terminal stations in the city; express packages may be delivered directly to the door by elevator from the underground exclusive logistics channels... and the whole process will only take a few minutes!

"Underground logistics" has been put on the agenda. With the development of technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and 5G, the application scenario potential of "road +" will be further developed.