How Autonomy is Reshaping Airside Logistics

The journey towards autonomous airports is already underway. Changi Airport has deployed its first fleet of fully driverless tractors for airside operations, after nearly a year of trials covering more than 5,000 test trips. Two now move passenger bags between the baggage-handling areas of Terminals 1 and 4, and the fleet is due to grow to 24 vehicles by 2027.

For EVIE Autonomous, this highlights a practical opportunity to use autonomy to improve the repeatable movements that keep an airport operating.

Why Airside is a Natural Fit for Autonomy

With so many moving parts within an airport, automating processes that already follow set routes is a natural fit for autonomy. The Changi example shows the wider benefit. Taking driving off a worker’s hands frees them for harder last-mile tasks.

The aim is to support ground-handling teams by taking on the repetitive parts of the job, so people can concentrate on the work that requires human judgement.

Safety and Integration

Airside environments share space between vehicles, equipment and people, making safety integral from the start. Dependable autonomy needs good integration with the vehicle, sensing that works in difficult conditions and independent safety supervision.

At Changi Airport, clear zones are marked out to allow airside tractors to operate safely alongside airport staff. Adapting autonomy doesn’t end with the autonomous vehicle. Well-thought-out integration is also the key to ensuring successful and safe adaptation to airside autonomy.

ARLO and Airside Logistics

At EVIE Autonomous, airside logistics is a key focus for ARLO, the Autonomous Robotic Logic Operator. ARLO uses AI vision and AI-enhanced 4D radar to understand the environment around it. An independent safety layer called Watchdog continually supervises ARLO and the vehicle, and can slow, stop or place the machine in a safe state if it detects an unsafe condition. ARLO is also designed to work with existing vehicles, so operators can add autonomous capability without replacing the fleet they already run.

The value of autonomy will be measured in dependable operations, effective integration and the support it gives ground-handling teams. To find out more about ARLO and how EVIE Autonomous can benefit your industry, get in touch.