The operation of the automated terminal system is divided into four parts including state perception，real-time analysis，scientific decision making and accurate execution. State perception is the first step and the foundation of the next three steps. In case practice of Qingdao port automated terminal，this paper appiles empirical validation method and quantitative analysis method to study the sensing technology used in Qingdao port automation terminal，and obtain the application results and the disadvantage of sensing technology in automated terminal. The results show that the process and equipment operation of the automatic terminal are realized data-driven. The sensing information achieves full coverage，high-precision and full automation. The improvement of equipment complexity and the reduction of stability are the urgent problems to be solved.