Self-driving bus transporting KLM crew at Schiphol

The second phase of the trial of electric self-driving buses has started at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

During this phase, the airport, together with KLM Cityhopper and KLM Ground services, is testing a fixed, pre-programmed route to and from the apron.

Crew from KLM Cityhopper arriving at Schiphol can use the shuttle service. Earlier this year, Schiphol conducted a successful initial trial of these self-driving buses from supplier Ohmio.

During the first phase of the trial, the focus was on testing technical features and ease of use. The current phase will take place at the apron, an even more complex setting where there is always a lot of simultaneous activity: ranging from aircraft arriving and departing, to flight handling operations and airline crew transport.

Sensors and cameras  


Over the coming weeks, several times a day the bus will fetch KLM Cityhopper crew from Apron A, where KLM Cityhopper aircraft park before departure and on arrival at Schiphol. The self-driving bus then drops off the flight crew at the terminal.

The airport reveals that the vehicle is equipped with sensors and special cameras and makes use of GPS to manoeuvre. The bus has a 360-degree view because it is equipped with LIDAR technology. This allows the vehicle to detect and move around objects located up to 30 metres away.

“It’s great that we’ve been able to follow up on the trial with the self-driving buses so soon,” notes the Royal Schiphol Group’s head of innovation, Jan Zekveld.

“We’re curious about the insights we’ll gain at this location, particularly because punctuality and safety is crucial on this route.

“We’re also curious how airline crew members experience self-driving transport. This will help to build trust in the technology and potentially facilitates future integration of other self-driving vehicles.”