Keene received the honour for his services to the decarbonisation of airports, marking over 40 years of experience working in the automotive sector and developing driverless technology and intelligent mobility in aviation.
He has been recognised for pioneering one of the most significant aviation developments, the Auto-DollyTug, an autonomous vehicle for moving baggage and cargo that has been deployed at six airports.
Designed, developed and built at Aurrigo’s Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, the electric-powered tugs promise to cut emissions, increase operational performance and improve passenger experience.
The MBE comes weeks after Aurrigo secured its largest agreement to date by entering into a strategic partnership with Swissport to deploy the Auto-DollyTug at Zurich Airport and to explore the implementation of deployment at other locations.
Keene said: “It is such a massive honour to be recognised by HRH King Charles, but the MBE is really for all the team that have played such a key role in our growth and success to date. They’ve believed in the dream, and it is their skills, expertise and technical knowledge that has transported us to the front of the autonomous conversation.”
He is a passionate ambassador for UK manufacturing and encouraging more young people to develop a career in engineering.
Keene has forged relationships with Aston, Warwick and Coventry universities, giving students and researchers the opportunity to explore R&D and embed lessons from working with his products into their learning.
His passion has led him to commit more than 100 hours of voluntary service to the UK Automotive Council, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, local universities and Galgotias University in India, where he lectures international students on automated vehicles and technology.
The development of Aurrigo’s products means the UK will need more people with the right skills and talents, said Keene, saying: “That’s why it is important that we are vocal about the careers available in manufacturing and technology, showcasing the global opportunities they deliver.”
