Qingdao Port, part of Shandong Port Group, makes a significant advancement in China's move toward smart and sustainable development. [Photo by Yu Fangping/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao Port, part of Shandong Port Group, has made a significant advancement in China's move toward smart and sustainable development. From automated loading arms to high-altitude inspection robots, these advanced machines are transforming workflows previously handled by manual labor.

At the fully automated terminal, visitors witness high-tech precision: a high-voltage shore power robot connects berthed vessels with clean electricity, displaying Qingdao Port's efforts to green its operations. Over the past few years, nearly 20 types of intelligent robots have been developed and deployed, demonstrating the port's commitment to embracing AI technology.

In the container yards, six-axis robotic arms with adaptive clamps can detach container locks in just 30 seconds, doubling the efficiency of manual work. These robots, capable of handling over 50 lock types, effectively address the last-mile challenge in automated terminal operations. Underwater inspection robots scan seabed infrastructure, and explosion-proof patrol robots use sensors to detect gas leaks or equipment wear, sending out real-time alerts to enhance safety.

Safety is further reinforced by climbing robots with magnetic technology, scanning welds and joints up to 80 meters high with pinpoint accuracy — even detecting cracks as small as 0.1 millimeter.

Qingdao Port is also setting green benchmarks. Shore power robots helped the port reach over 10 million kWh in clean electricity use in 2024. Solar panel cleaning robots, designed for slope terrain and quick maintenance, boost the reliability of renewable energy systems.

Together, these smart solutions represent Qingdao Port's steady progress toward a high-efficiency, low-carbon future.