The autonomous baggage handling vehicle can operate in 50mm of precipitation per hour. (Image: Aurrigo International)
Jetting off on holiday became easier after a British firm developed software to help airports beat heavy rain and snow.
Aurrigo International, which makes driverless luggage trolleys to haul heavy baggage and cargo, has come up with a rainfall algorithm to detect the velocity of wet weather while still being able to operate in up to 50mm of precipitation per hour.
The breakthrough means its Auto-DollyTug can safely and effectively move baggage and cargo around airports in intense and appalling weather conditions that stop manual operation, grinding airports to a standstill.
The tech is being adopted by some of the world’s biggest hubs, and ultimately, people will be replaced by machines in a critical airport function.
Chief Technical Officer Simon Brewerton said: “Traditionally, very heavy rain has presented a significant problem for autonomous vehicles.
“AVs using this technology rely on the reflection feedback of laser beams for localisation and object recognition and, in intense weather, the scattering and absorption of laser beams by raindrops can lead to distorted signals, compromising the vehicle’s ability to accurately perceive its surroundings.”
He added: “The big Eureka moment for us and the sector is the algorithm we have trained to strike a balance between the removal of raindrops and retaining the ability to detect real obstacles.
“This means that airlines and airport operators have complete confidence that, even in extreme rain conditions, our autonomous dollies will operate efficiently.”
The machine has been rigorously tested in tropical weather. (Image: Aurrigo International)
The quantum leap by the Coventry-based firm could soon make diesel-spewing tugs obsolete. These tugs lug heavy suitcases from airport departure halls to the tarmac.
Aurrigo has struck deals to use the self-driving tech at Singapore Changi Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the US, and Stuttgart Airport. This year, some 22 airports worldwide will roll out the invention.
The all-electric trolleys are available as driverless or manual and can carry 1.5 tonnes and tow 7.5 tonnes of suitcases, saving time, space, and costs and bypassing potential strikes.
The vehicle carries 30% more than a traditional diesel-powered tug set-up of the same overall length, and robotic arms allow the vehicle to load and unload autonomously.
In recent years, travel to and from UK airports has been marred by widespread disruption after airport security and baggage handling staff threatened a succession of walk-outs, with unions rejoicing strikes would “bring all terminals and airline baggage handling to a standstill”. This means that the rollout of zero-emission trucks could end any subsequent industrial action.
The all-electric trolleys are available as driverless or manual and can lug 1.5 tonnes of cargo (Image: Aurrigo International)
The massive boost is further proof that innovative British firms are flourishing with technology that can improve lives.
Orders from across the world have flooded in after Aurrigo’s driverless shuttles were tested on the streets of Prague for the first time.
Aurrigo’s futuristic Auto-Shuttle replaced horse and cart in the Czech Republic capital – a major worldwide tourist destination – in what bosses described as a “major export win”.
Sam Layton, Regional Vice President Singapore at Aurrigo International, said: “The tests had to prove the Auto-DollyTug could operate autonomously with no ghost or intermittent stops, react to a box and person injected into the vehicle’s path and safely navigate a T-junction airside with oncoming traffic left and right.
“This is a real game-changing moment for autonomous vehicles and aviation.”