The airport handles around 31,000 pieces of baggage for transferring passengers on an average day, which is mostly processed in the morning, putting pressure on the baggage system and handling operations.
To handle baggage more efficiently, the Auto-DollyTug will transport luggage for passengers with long layovers from the aircraft to a temporary storage location.
Royal Schiphol Group is collaborating with KLM for the project.
The first phase of the trial started in August last year, testing the route from the temporary baggage storage area to a secured storage location.
The vehicle delivers baggage to the baggage hall at the appropriate time where it can be entered into the system and processed for the connecting fleet.
During the first phase, the vehicle mapped the platform environment using 3D cameras and learned how to navigate independently.
Other aspects were trialled step-by-step such as autonomously picking up and dropping off containers and manoeuvring through the busy baggage hall.
Jan Zekveld, Senior Manager Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group said that Schiphol is committed to more sustainable, emissions-free ground operations and is looking to replace its ground fleet with a connected network of autonomous, emissions-free vehicles.
He said: “By doing so we automate all related processes. Even in an autonomous ground operation, employees will continue to play a crucial role, with their work becoming more varied and supervisory.”
The next phase involves operating on the pier where the Auto-DollyTug must navigate denser traffic.
If it is successful, the test routes will be expanded and vehicles will be tested at aircraft stands by the end of this year.
The autonomous vehicle is equipped with LiDAR sensors and 360-degree cameras to safely navigate among other traffic, brake in time and maintain sufficient distances.
For safety reasons, an operator will always be present in the vehicle during the trial to intervene if necessary.
Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, said: “The work we are doing demonstrates a fantastic use case for our self-driving Auto-DollyTug, showcasing how automation can enhance efficiency while supporting the workload for baggage handlers and easing pressure on airport systems. We’re proud to support Schiphol’s vision for a smarter, more sustainable future in ground operations.”
