Autonomous tugs on trial at Stuttgart Airport

Autonomous technology born in the UK has been given a high-profile German seal of approval after a demonstration at Stuttgart Airport.

Aurrigo International plc’s Auto-DollyTug was successfully deployed as part of the Digital Testbed Air Cargo (DTAC) Demonstration.

The demonstration was led by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) and operational partners Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH, Fraport AG, and Sovereign Speed Gmbh.

Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport was among those in attendance during the trial, which arguably provided a glimpse into the potential future of air cargo handling and how it can be optimised by using autonomous equipment.

All images courtesy of Leif Piechowski.

Held on the apron of Stuttgart Airport, the demonstration included a host of features, such as:

• Autonomous transport of cargo containers to the aircraft position
• Autonomous recognition of the loading device (high loader) at the aircraft position and cargo handover
• Collaborative behaviour in mixed traffic with manual vehicles and pedestrians, including yielding right of way
• Reliable detection of static and dynamic obstacles.

Luksic said: “The demonstration of the autonomous vehicle at Stuttgart Airport clearly shows that the Digital Testbed Air Cargo makes a direct contribution to the advancement of freight handling on the airfield.

“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.”

Benjamin Bierwirth, professor for controlling and logistics at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, noted: “The demonstration impressively shows the progress in autonomous vehicles in the aviation sector.

“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.

“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.”

With the company’s patented sideways drive system, this innovative tractor can manoeuvre directly sideways into confined spaces within the baggage hall and amidst ground service equipment (GSE) on the apron.

Additionally, its 360-degree tank turn capabilities and integrated robotic arms enable the vehicle to automatically load and unload unit load devices (ULDs) with precision, streamlining operations.