Autonomous wheelchairs land at DTW’s Evans Terminal

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is to trial autonomous wheelchairs in its Warren Cleage Evans Terminal.

The pilot programme – a collaboration between Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) and Unifi  – is designed to provide support to customers who may have difficulty walking long distances or navigating independently throughout the airport terminal.

The devices are programmed to transport travellers to designated locations within the terminal, such as restrooms or concessions, and their departure gate.

All autonomous personal mobility vehicles are designed with Blueberry Technology, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and preloads virtual maps of the airport to help all customers explore the terminal with ease.

“The introduction of autonomous wheelchairs at the Evans Terminal represents yet another significant advancement in enhancing accessibility,” said WCAA CEO, Chad Newton.

“This partnership with Unifi enables us to provide an innovative and efficient service for our customers, facilitating a more seamless and inclusive experience at DTW.”

Once security screening is completed, interested customers will be escorted to the loading area of the autonomous personal mobility vehicles and receive instructions on how to safely operate the wheelchairs. If preferred, travellers can still opt for traditional wheelchair service.

Blueberry Technology-powered personal mobility vehicles are designed with user-friendly functions and safety features that include obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities allow the wheelchairs to slow down or stop when pedestrians or objects are within reach.

In addition its wheelchairs have a manual override feature that provides an added layer of reassurance and user control, while geo-fencing functionality ensures devices remain in authorised areas within the terminals.

Through remote monitoring, system updates will be conducted periodically to ensure the most efficient and effective pathways for customers.

Funding for the programme is partially supported by a grant from the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), as part of the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP).

Last spring, WCAA and Unifi established a similar partnership to implement the deployment of autonomous wheelchairs at the Edward H McNamara Terminal.