Picture credit: Leif Piechowski
The test was attended by Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, providing a glimpse into the future of air cargo handling and how it can be optimised with autonomous equipment.
The demonstration was held on the apron of Stuttgart Airport and showed the autonomous transport of cargo containers to the aircraft position, autonomous recognition of the loading device and cargo handover, operating in mixed traffic with manual vehicles and pedestrians, and reliably detecting static and dynamic obstacles.
Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, said: “To have Mr Luksic on site to see the test firsthand was a massive honour, and the feedback we received for our pioneering innovation was extremely positive.”
Luksic said: “The use of autonomous vehicles can make processes more efficient and safer. This is a crucial step towards a digital and interconnected air freight transport chain.”
The DTAC Demonstration was led by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flows and Logistics with operational partners Flughafen Stuttgart, Fraport and Sovereign Speed.
Benjamin Bierwirth, Professor for Controlling and Logistics at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, said: “The tests demonstrate how autonomous vehicles can efficiently and precisely handle the transport of cargo containers, making handling more predictable and resilient even in times of skilled labour shortages. This marks a significant advancement in the industry and offers a promising outlook on the future of air cargo logistics.”
Aurrigo’s patented sideways drive system means the Auto-DollyTug can manoeuvre sideways into confined spaces within the baggage hall and around GSE on the apron.
Its 360-degree tank turn capabilities and integrated robotic arms allow it to automatically load and unload ULDs with precision.
