2024-03-29 17:26:34
In the near future, the sight of “tractors” pulling luggage driven by a human will slowly disappear, and will become a thing of the past, according to what was published by the British “Daily Mail”.
British Airways will begin using a self-driving baggage robot called “Auto-DollyTug” at Gatwick Airport later this year, where the robot will pick up bags from the airport building and transport them across the runway in closed containers to waiting aircraft. Once the containers arrive on the plane, they will be loaded using human-operated elevators into the cargo hold.
The Auto-DollyTug, made by a company called Aurigo, based in Coventry, is expected to be more efficient and faster than current procedures, while reducing the amount of lost luggage.
David Kane, CEO and co-founder of Aurigo, said the robotic tractor would likely be a “magic bullet” for travelers regarding airport baggage carts, noting that it would help improve services for air travellers.
“IAG is exploring innovative ways to help its airlines run their operations as smoothly and on schedule as possible,” said Steve McGowan of IAG, which owns British Airways, adding that IAG is “working with Aurrigo to trial the use of self-driving baggage carts, to help support… Great baggage teams work at airlines and ground handling companies.”
Aurrigo has also been testing a fleet of Auto-DollyTug at Changi Airport in Singapore since the Covid pandemic, and has previously tested it at Heathrow but will now enter full-time service as part of BA’s Gatwick flight trial from May at the earliest. Meanwhile, self-driving baggage transport will be introduced to Cincinnati Airport in Ohio.
The robotic tractor uses 360-degree cameras and LiDAR, a sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances to objects.
The use of robots to transport luggage will help address the shortage of employees providing this service in the world of the aviation industry, which has sometimes led to flight delays and cancellations, long waiting lines, and higher ticket prices.
Last updated: March 25, 2024 – 19:50
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2024-03-29 17:26:34