David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, discusses how autonomous driving will progress in the UK, how a chance encounter pivoted his company’s entire market and the journey of turning grant funding into an initial public offering.
Aurrigo is an autonomous driving company that specialises in vehicles for the aviation industry, including self-driving baggage carriers. The Coventry-based company was founded in 1993, initially focused on autonomous passenger vehicles. A call from the head of innovation at International Airlines Group, convinced Keene that the future of Aurrigo’s technology was in supporting aviation. The group listed publicly on London’s AIM market in 2022.
Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Aurrigo International plc, a leading international provider of transport technology solutions, is pleased to announce that its Auto-Dolly Tug® and Auto-Sim® solutions have been formally approved for recommendation to Aviation Solutions B. V. (Aviation Solutions) network of 60+ airports.
Aviation Solutions focuses on commercialising innovative technologies that have successfully passed rigorous testing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The partnership between the two companies was initially announced in April 2024 with the intention to roll out Aurrigo’s autonomous solutions. With testing under the Royal Schiphol Group contract now validated, the work begins to commercialise this proven technology to airports worldwide.
Marcel Stroop, Director of Go-to-Market, Aviation Solutions, commented: “Aurrigo International is a true front-runner in the field of autonomous ground handling technology. Our partnership marks an exciting milestone in our effort to bring proven innovations from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to across the world.
“We collaborate with partners and airports to innovate, faster. To be able to provide airports solutions we guarantee will work with a 100% confidence level. I’m very excited that Aurrigo is now also part of that movement.”
The relationship provides an opportunity to demonstrate the environmental, cost saving and performance benefits of Auto-DollyTug® at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol by Aviation Solutions to its partners across the globe, with over 65+ organisations already utilising their products.
The wider aviation sector is now being encouraged to learn how automated technologies can deliver new solutions to the sector. Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, added his support: “Auto-DollyTug® is arguably one of the biggest innovations to hit baggage and cargo handling for more than four decades and the aviation world is starting to take notice of what they can achieve through our autonomous vehicles and advanced technology.”
Auto-DollyTug® is an electric, autonomous baggage and cargo tractor that combines the functionality of a baggage tractor and airport dolly in one smart, compact vehicle. Currently being tested at six global airports, it can rotate on the spot and move sideways using a unique sideways drive system. It also features bi-directional robotic arms that enable autonomous loading and unloading of unit load devices (ULDs), streamlining operations even in congested areas.
The company’s Auto-Sim® technology is proving equally popular, with its cutting-edge simulation software helping to model and optimise airside operations in a digital environment.It enables airports, airlines, and ground handlers to visualise the impact of introducing new technologies like charging infrastructure and/or autonomous vehicles in the virtual world.
Discover more on the groundbreaking work that Aviation Solutions and Aurrigo are doing at www.schiphol.nl/aurrigo.
Enquiries:
Aurrigo International plc David Keene, Chief Executive Officer
Tenille Houston, VP Public Relations and Communications
Aviation Solutions B.V. Marcel Stroop, Director of Go-to-Market
Tim Vellema, Strategy Consultant
Aurrigo International plc is an international designer and developer of fully integrated smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, including automated vehicles, systems and software.
The Group’s proprietary, award-winning autonomous technology and secure management system is supporting some of the world’s leading airports. Customers choose to partner with Aurrigo to transform their baggage and cargo handling operations, improving safety, operational efficiencies and meeting sustainability targets, while navigating growing passenger volumes, rising costs and increasing labour shortages.
Headquartered in Coventry, UK with offices in Singapore and Ottawa, the Group has a 30+ year heritage designing and supplying automotive vehicle manufacturers with highly advanced, innovative product and system solutions.
As an independent company with long-term investment support from Schiphol Group, Aviation Solutions is well-positioned to deliver high-quality, reliable airport solutions on a global scale. Supported by a team of over 40+ aviation experts and scientists, Aviation Solutions has developed solutions such as Deep Turnaround and Travor, a cutting-edge software solutions tailored to modern airports.
Successful deployments of Aviation Solutions’ products include airports such as Hamad International, Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Frankfurt Airport, and Athens International Airport, demonstrating the effectiveness and reliability in various operational contexts.
Aviation Solutions also works closely with the most innovative suppliers of Schiphol Group. Once they are guaranteed to deliver results, they are added to the portfolio so that other airports can benefit from them as well.
Aurrigo International plc’s latest autonomous technology was unveiled in Coventry yesterday, as part of an exciting project with Innovate UK, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), supply chain giant UPS and East Midlands Airport. Auto-Cargo® is the company’s largest aviation vehicle to date and is set to transform airside logistics by autonomously carrying a total payload of 16,500kg. The vehicle is a fully electric, zero emission alternative to existing diesel-powered models.
Left – Jim Sargent (UPS), Michael Talbot (CCAV), Mal Mutton (Lord Mayor of Coventry), Prof. David Keene, Dr. Richard Fairchild, Katie Anderson (UPS), Matt Nicholson (UPSAurrigo’s Auto-Cargo
With precision automation, advanced obstacle detection, and real-time fleet coordination, the vehicle will reduce stress on workers, enhance safety, and optimise on-the-ground performance. Backed by funding from Innovate UK and CCAV, the new vehicle’s next stop is to move heavy cargo loads to and from aircraft at UPS’ hub at East Midlands Airport, the UK’s second largest cargo terminal.
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “This latest launch is another milestone moment for our business and extends our footprint in the aviation sector. Working with UPS, we have designed and developed an autonomous vehicle that can transport a standard cargo pallet or two ULDs with a 4500kg onboard capacity and the option of towing an additional 12,000kg trailer.
“Our launch event was the perfect opportunity to showcase Auto-Cargo® and the collaboration with UPS to an exclusive group of industry delegates. They had the opportunity to look around the vehicle and explore some of the autonomous technology and features for themselves.”
He continued: “We have had significant success with the roll-out of our smaller Auto-DollyTug® at airports across the globe, helping to transport passenger luggage, and now we are ready to make our mark in the cargo sector.” Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation, added her support:“Our modern Industrial Strategy will help build on successes like Aurrigo’s autonomous technology, bringing growth, jobs and opportunities to every part of the UK and delivering on our Plan for Change.
“By working in partnership with industry, we want to drive forward innovation and propel the development of next generation zero emission and automated vehicle technologies.” Auto-Cargo®, which utilises an electric drive with twin 18.4kW motors and four-wheel steering, enhances efficiency, safety, and sustainability in airport cargo operations and, thanks to a new software algorithm developed in house, can fully function in severe weather, including rain in excess of 50mm per hour.
