Autonomous GSE: The shape of things to come?

With the airport sector facing growing workforce and cost issues, companies involved in the fledgling autonomous ground support equipment (GSE) sector believe there has never been a better time to embrace the technology.

Trials and implementations at airports around the world are offering an insight into autonomous operations of the future, in everything from aircraft cleaning to baggage and unit load device (ULD) operations.

Time to innovate

“There has been little innovation in GSE for more than 40 years so we feel it is the right time to bring this technology to market,” said Professor David Keene, CEO of UK-based company Aurrigo International, which has developed the Auto-DollyTug, an autonomous baggage handling vehicle. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the industry upside down and has brought forward interest in automated solutions,” he told Airports International.

Aurrigo believes airports should be embarking on the journey now, in a phased and measured approach. “Now is exactly the right time to begin integrating these innovative solutions into airport operations with scale-up accomplished in phases. Our technology is ready and ideally suited to begin immediate non-mission-critical tasks, such as collecting empty ULDs, enabling those workers to move to areas with manpower shortages to do more value-added jobs,” suggested Keene.

He said: “The faster airports, airlines and ground handlers begin trialling the technology, the faster their costs will go down, their manpower requirements can be managed better, and greater operational efficiencies can be achieved.”

The Auto-DollyTug is an all-electric, manually driven or autonomously driven vehicle that incorporates the functions of a baggage tractor and a ULD carrying dolly. “This combination creates a more flexible and space-efficient vehicle,” Keene told Airports International.

The Changi trials

Aurrigo has been trialling the Auto-DollyTug at Singapore’s Changi Airport for more than two years, with phase 2A of the trial concluding earlier this year, demonstrating the vehicle in different conditions, aligning with airport equipment, automating the transfer of baggage containers and close quarter operations to aircraft on stand.

The latest phase 2B involves four vehicles rolling out in phases as the airport seeks to assess and validate a concept of operations to support the turnaround of a widebody flight. This phase of testing, which has started, focuses on Auto-DollyTug’s fleet communication through its Auto-Connect platform. “This platform is integrated into the airport’s/airline’s baggage system and enables a much larger fleet of vehicles to be scheduled and monitored to support the turnaround of a widebody flight,” explained Keene.

The Changi trials have highlighted the fact that the turnaround of each aircraft is unique, with human-driven vehicles not consistently following processes and rosters. “Our engineers quickly identified these inconsistencies through observation and simulation using our Auto-Sim product. This allowed us to provide invaluable information back to the airport to improve operations and integration of our Auto-DollyTugs,” Keene said. The autonomous vehicle is flexible, adaptable and can work alongside traditional GSE, he noted. 

Aurrigo has “another important trial currently at a large airport in the UK and additionally has vehicles on their way to Cincinnati/Kentucky International, Stuttgart International and Amsterdam Schiphol airports”, Keene revealed.

Most recently, in July, the vehicle was successfully deployed at Germany’s Stuttgart Airport as part of the Digital Testbed Air Cargo (DTAC) demonstration led by Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Auto-DollyTug conducted the autonomous transport of cargo containers to the aircraft; autonomous recognition of the loading device; collaborative behaviour in mixed traffic with manual vehicles and pedestrians; and reliable detection of static and dynamic obstacles.

“The demonstration impressively shows the progress in autonomous vehicles in the aviation sector,” said Benjamin Bierwirth, Professor for Controlling and Logistics at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. He added: “Even demanding tasks can be taken over, thus relieving personnel of time-consuming tasks. I expect these vehicles to be in continuous operational use at major airports within the next five years.”

Interest is growing worldwide, with “ongoing conversations for more projects in the coming months”, according to Keene. “Everyone connected with aviation is excited to learn about our technology and solutions which are available now, as opposed to something way ahead in the future,” he said.  

Baby steps

Aurrigo’s early testing and discussions with potential customers have highlighted the fact that not all airports are able to jump to fully autonomous vehicles, but are looking to electrify their fleets as a first step. “This is where Auto-DollyTug is a gamechanger as we give them the ability to operate the tug manually in full electric mode, with the option to then switch to autonomous when they are ready,” said Keene.

Airport trials are providing airports and equipment suppliers with valuable experience that can lead to further product improvements. During its Changi trials, Aurrigo identified several features that could be implemented to enhance the manoeuvrability of Auto-Dolly Tug, making it more agile, with these features now built into the latest version.

The third-generation vehicle features robotic arms to automatically load and unload, a sideways drive system for multi-direction driving, 360° tank turn and a height-adjustable deck. Software has also been developed, including a rain-sensing filtering algorithm to increase operating parameters to 50mm/h of rainfall, which has been necessary in order to operate in the intense rain regularly experienced in Singapore.

Autonomous technology is already well established and proving its worth in industrial manufacturing and warehouses, and now is the time for it to make major inroads in the airport environment, TractEasy believes. TractEasy was formally launched in June by Alvest Group, along with its GSE company TLD and Smart Airport Systems (SAS), as well as driverless technology provider EasyMile, with the aim of commercialising the EZTow autonomous tow tractor. The joint venture aims to accelerate the global deployment of its autonomous tow tractor solution for airports and industrial sites, with TractEasy the exclusive distributor of the co-developed product.

EZTow is already in service at airports and industry, with airport customers including Singapore Changi Airport for baggage transport and Japan Airlines at Narita International Airport.

“Scaling up the deployment is the next challenge in aviation,” said Maxime Mahieu, CEO of SAS. “With the technology now proven, and the financial stability of the Alvest Group, TractEasy is positioned as a unique partner for the long-term.”

According to TractEasy CEO Richard Reno, the efficient handling of baggage and cargo is becoming more and more difficult, with the task heavily dependent on labour, which is increasingly in short supply. The situation will only worsen as the demand for air transport increases, requiring airports and airlines to streamline their operations.

Airports lag behind industrial businesses in their use of autonomous vehicles and established associated safety standards, but a number of proof-of-concept demonstrations around the world are highlighting their potential for airports, TractEasy believes. “For these pioneering airports and airlines with the fortitude to power through, the benefits they envisioned are being achieved, if not exceeded, and with the invaluable experience they have gained, their plans for scaling up have graduated from the white board to the board room for approval,” Reno told Airports International.

However, he warns that only those solutions and providers with the highest level of safety will progress from proof-of-concept to widescale adoption in the airport environment.

“Autonomous outdoor tow tractors have emerged as a key part of the automation solution in the industrial segment with demonstrated safety, efficiency and return on investment. Now, with the technology evolution, building pools of autonomous expertise and growing understanding of and capability to address operation environment barriers in the airport market, autonomous tow tractor deployments are set to take off, paving the way for improved safety, higher efficiency and lower operating costs at airports around the world,” said Reno.

One company keen to be active in the airport sector is Westwell. The Chinese global intelligent services company has developed intelligent solutions for the bulk logistics fields, including seaports, railway hubs, dry ports and factories.

Earlier this year, Westwell signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) to collaborate on the introduction off its autonomous tractor, the Q-Tractor P40. The autonomous vehicles will be used to tow cargo dollies and eventually automatically couple and uncouple the dollies, and adjust to their differing specifications, according to the partners.

Following an on-site testing and development phase, the autonomous vehicles will be progressively integrated into Hactl’s current driver-controlled tractor fleet. The autonomous vehicles will initially tow loaded ULDs on a 1km route between Hactl’s outdoor ULD staging area and the main terminal ULD intake deck of SuperTerminal 1, say the partners. Longer and more complex routes will be progressively introduced.

Safety first

Safety is a major consideration with the use of autonomous vehicles, says Westwell. The tractor is fitted with a highly-accurate global navigation satellite system, multiple high-definition cameras and LIDAR sensors to detect objects and avoid collisions. Operational speeds will be restricted to 8kph as an additional safety measure, it adds. Westwell has also developed WellAirport, which it describes as a smart GSE dispatching and management system.

Hactl’s main motivation in implementing autonomous vehicles is the ongoing challenge of recruiting, according to Wilson Kwong, Hactl CEO. “Recruitment for airport-related work, and particularly airside work, is becoming ever more challenging. This means we must utilise our available workforce as efficiently as possible, and deploy them on those duties which make best use of their experience, skills and abilities,” he explained.

Kwong added: “After extensive investigation and research, we believe that the work of operating towing tractors over set routes should now be feasible using the latest autonomous vehicle technology, and that this can be achieved without compromising safety. Although driverless vehicles are becoming established technology, Hactl is enhancing the concept with the addition of automated functions specific to its needs.”

Elsewhere in the airport

While autonomy in airport vehicle operations is relatively new, automated solutions in other areas of airport operations have been delivering benefits for many years. This includes exterior aircraft cleaning, with Nordic Dino Robotics’ aircraft exterior robots having been operating at airports around the world for a number of decades. “Over 100 robots have been sold in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East,” said chief commercial officer Veronika Andrianovaite.

The robots deliver a multitude of benefits, according to Andrianovaite, who points to environmental, safety and cost-saving benefits. Automated aircraft washing systems slash traditional water usage from 11,300 litres per wash to 1,800 litres – an 84% reduction, she says. “This drastic reduction not only alleviates the financial burden, but also significantly mitigates the environmental impact associated with large-scale water use. Moreover, these systems optimise chemical consumption, substantially cutting the quantities needed and thus reducing harmful runoff,” she explained.

Robots also minimise the risks associated with manual cleaning, avoiding the need for workers to be exposed to the dangers of working at height. “Aircraft cleaning robots are equipped with advanced technology that enables them to safely operate at elevated positions, eliminating the need for human workers to engage in such risky activities,” said Andrianovaite.

Nordic Dino Robotics’ solutions have been developed and improved over decades to meet customer requirements. Today’s solution features a two-sector, variable geometry brush, with an automatic ‘embrace’ function for an even, careful and uniform surface clean, says Andrianovaite. Its arm system geometry allows it to reach difficult areas, while its lithium-ion battery ensures non-stop, five-hour operation with fast charge in just 1.5 hours.

Further changes are likely. “With the appearance of new technologies and capabilities, we are constantly investing in further improvements and adaptability of Nordic Dino robots,” she told Airports International.

Regional uptake

The uptake of autonomous solutions is showing significant regional differences, which doesn’t always make it easy for suppliers to meet local requirements. Aurrigo has deployed autonomous solutions across four continents, with each continent, country and state approaching autonomy in a different way, says Keene. “We have always been communicative and collaborative with our customers, providing them with the information they need to understand the safety standards and procedures that our company has put in place for our automated vehicles,” he explained.

Keene adds the company is also sharing its learnings with organisations including civil aviation authorities, the International Air Transport Association and Future Travel Experience’s Baggage Innovation Working Group “to help drive forward future industry standards”.

Despite a growing number of solutions, confusion remains. “Many aviation organisations are uncertain where to start on the road to automation and that is particularly frustrating for them,” said Aurrigo’s Keene. He added: “There is always excitement about the benefits automation can deliver in the long term, but there is an equal amount of uncertainty on who should move implementation forward – is it the airport, the airline or the GSEs?”

For this reason, Aurrigo has developed the Auto-Sim 3D digital twin software modelling tool that simulates how an airport operates with autonomous vehicles added to the mix.

A phased approach to automation in airport operations is likely. “Various machines, including autonomous baggage transport vehicles, shuttles and self-driving vehicles are under development, but complete global integration will take time,” said Nordic Dino’s Andrianovaite. “In the interim, semi-automatic GSE solutions offer a valuable alternative. We recognised the potential of GSE automation years ago,” she added. “While autonomous GSE is undoubtedly set to become a significant aspect of the ground handling industry in the foreseeable future, it might still be a while before the apron is bustling with self-driving GSE.” 

Addressing the workforce gap

Rather than pushing out humans from jobs, developments in autonomy and automation provide an opportunity to alleviate the current and growing labour shortage issues impacting the aviation industry, according to equipment suppliers.

“The aviation industry is finding it challenging to fill positions in ground handling operations, where the work is very strenuous and often takes place in extreme weather,” said Aurrigo International CEO Professor David Keene.

During testing of its Auto-DollyTug, airport personnel have been heavily involved and “positive about the benefits of our technology and products and how they can support them in their current operations”, he added.

Automation also means that some jobs that might otherwise be overlooked in times of labour shortages can be performed and more efficiently. “Labour shortage is an important challenge faced across the world,” said Veronika Andrianovaite, chief commercial officer, Nordic Dino Robotics. “Cleanliness of aircraft is often overlooked because of staff necessity to perform other tasks,” continued Andrianovaite, adding that a single-person-operated robotic solution for aircraft washing allows staff to prioritise other work.

Such solutions also bring safety benefits. “Safety and wellbeing are essential throughout the aviation industry, including the difficult task of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of ground personnel. Automated aircraft cleaning systems have revolutionised this aspect of the job, offering a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional methods that expose workers to multiple hazards,” Andrianovaite explained.