Aurrigo International plc Commences Autonomous Baggage Handling Programme with IAG

Aurrigo International plc Commences Autonomous Baggage Handling Programme with International Airlines Group (IAG) at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

Aurrigo announces first deployment of its autonomous aviation vehicle, Auto-DollyTug®, in the USA with International Airlines Group

Coventry, United Kingdom, January 18th, 2024: Aurrigo International plc (Aurrigo) has commenced its programme with International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) for the deployment and demonstration of its autonomous baggage tractor, Auto-DollyTug®. 

(Photo: David Keene, CEO, Aurrigo; Candace McGraw, CEO, CVG; Greg Paton, VP-Below Wing Automation, IAG)

To mark the start of the partnership, the parties gathered at CVG, a leading airport in autonomous technology.

“This partnership is an important milestone for us as it will be our first aviation operation in the USA – a key target market. This year we will have our autonomous vehicles operating at airports in the UK, Europe, Asia and now the US, showing the clear demand there is in the aviation sector for our technology” said Aurrigo CEO, Professor David Keene. Prof. Keene continued “We’re pleased to be partnering with IAG beyond the UK and to be building a presence at a key international airport. We are demonstrating vehicles that are designed from the ground up to be electric and autonomous to provide substantial efficiency improvements in future ground handling operations.”

“As one of the fastest-growing passenger and cargo hubs in the US and globally, CVG is always looking for innovative technologies to improve capacity and efficiency,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG. “We look forward to working with Aurrigo and IAG to identify potential solutions to help address many of the issues that aviation currently faces: staffing shortages, safety, capacity and environmental concerns, among others.”

(Photo: Nick Ridler, Aurrigo; Hannah Meredith, CVG; Naashom Marx, CVG; Greg Paton, IAG; Dave Keene, Aurrigo; Candace McGraw, CVG; Brian Cobb, CVG; Dana Borschewski, Aurrigo; Lewis Girdwood, Aurrigo)

The meeting today marks the project kick off for an initial deployment of one Auto-DollyTug® scheduled for spring of 2024.  Ground-breaking technology such as this, brings collaboration across public and private sector, from the airport, airline and ground handlers integrating the technology to the region that it will benefit.

“As the Birthplace of Aviation, Ohioans are quick to welcome new technologies that improve air travel,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “The world is better connected to Greater Cincinnati than ever before, and Aurrigo’s decision to test their first autonomous baggage dollies in the United States at CVG will advance the airport’s efficiencies and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.”

“Aurrigo’s decision to bring its autonomous baggage vehicles to the United States for the first time demonstrates the valuable partnerships developed since British Airways launched round-trip service from Cincinnati to London last year,” said Jobs Ohio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “This new route, assisted through the JobsOhio Air Service Restoration Program and REDI Cincinnati, is attracting Aurrigo’s innovative products and services that will enhance CVG passengers’ travel experience.”

On successful completion of the demonstration through 2024, Aurrigo expects that this will lead to the expansion of additional vehicles throughout 2025.

Auto-Sim® is Aurrigo’s latest software that creates a 3D digital twin to visualize today’s operations and model the impact of new technologies such as electric and or autonomous vehicles.

Auto-DollyTug® is an all-electric, autonomous vehicle that combines the utility of a baggage tractor, with the ULD (Unit Load device) carrying capability of an airport dolly all in one, making a more flexible and space efficient vehicle. This means that a combination of an Auto-DollyTug® towing three trailers carry four ULDs, which is 30% more than a traditional tug set-up of the same overall length. Auto-DollyTug® incorporates robotic arms on the body, allowing the vehicle to autonomously load and unload a ULD itself, for a truly end-to-end autonomous operation.

ENDS

Enquiries:

Aurrigo International plc                                                          via media@aurrigo.com 

Full media assets and Aurrigo’s vehicles can be found HERE

About Aurrigo 

Aurrigo is a leading international provider of transport technology solutions. Headquartered in Coventry, UK, it designs, engineers, manufactures, and supplies autonomous vehicles and OEM products to the automotive and transport industries, particularly focusing on aviation. It is highly regarded as a specialist in autonomous and semi-autonomous technology solutions for the aviation, ground handling and cargo industries. Aurrigo has developed six types of autonomous vehicles to date, which can be utilised to reduce costs, resolve operational issues, and tackle labour shortages, whilst also improving sustainability. Aurrigo has three divisions, Automotive Technology, Autonomous Technology and Aviation Technology. For more information, see www.aurrigo.com

AURRIGO TO SUPPORT THE GERMAN DIGITAL TESTBED AIR CARGO (DTAC) PROJECT FOR ITS AUTONOMOUS CARGO TRANSPORT TRIALS AT STUTTGART AIRPORT

Aurrigo Auto-DollyTug

 The Aurrigo Auto-DollyTug® autonomous electric baggage handling vehicle brings world first capabilities to aviation ground handling 

  • DTAC Consortium to deploy the Aurrigo Auto-DollyTug – a uniquely capable autonomous, electric cargo tractor to test driverless delivery of cargo to aircraft at part of the Digital Testbed Air Cargo Project (DTAC) 
  • Programme funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) academic leadership from Frauhofer IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics) and Frankfurt University of Applied Science 
  • Auto-DollyTug tows baggage or cargo trailers and also carries a standard baggage Unit Load Device (ULD) on the vehicle, increasing load capacity and movement efficiency by 30% for the same train length 
  • Designed from the ground up to be electric and autonomous, Auto-DollyTug can load and unload itself without driver involvement 
  • Full media assets and Aurrigo’s vehicles can be found HERE 

Coventry, Friday 24th November: Aurrigo International PLC secures a contract with the Digital Testbed Cargo Project (DTAC) Consortium to trial the autonomous transport of cargo from the terminal to the deck of the aircraft. The programme will use an Aurrigo Auto-DollyTug autonomous, electric vehicle, which brings unprecedented manoeuvrability and utility to the aviation sector to improve efficiency and speed up aircraft turnaround times. 

The subproject, which is funded by the Germany Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) and is carried out under the academic leadership of the Frauhofer IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics) and the Frankfurt University of Applied Science is part of the Digital Testbed Air Cargo (DTAC) project. The preparation work has already begun with Auto-DollyTug expected on the tarmac in March 2024. 

Auto-DollyTug combines the utility of a baggage /cargo tractor, with the ULD carrying capability of an airport dolly, making a more flexible and space efficient vehicle. This means that a combination of an Auto-DollyTug and three trailers carries four ULDs or over 30% more than a traditional tug set-up of the same overall length. Auto-DollyTug incorporates robotic arms on the body, allowing the vehicle to autonomously load and unload a ULD itself. 

Aurrigo CEO David Keene explains: “We are absolutely delighted to win this first deployment in Germany, following on from announcements we have made already in Singapore, USA, and the UK. This is an endorsement of our strategy to concentrate on aviation, a sector where there is a clear demand for autonomous, electric vehicles to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and allow for continued growth in volumes, despite a shortage of security cleared ground staff.” 

The operational part of the project is for an initial four week period at the project test site in Stuttgart Airport, which is expected to start in March 2024. The German project follows on from successful testing at Changi Airport in Singapore with the Auto-DollyTug, which has been running since February 2022. 

Aurrigo wins the AIM Award for…

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Aurrigo International plc

Coventry-based Aurrigo is a leading international provider of transport technology solutions. The group designs, engineers and manufactures electric autonomous vehicles and OEM products to the automotive and transport industries.

Aurrigo listed on AIM in September 2022, under challenging market conditions. The group raised £8m on admission, at a placing price of 48p. The success of the listing and fundraise is a testament to the group’s innovative technology and provides Aurrigo with a solid platform for growth. The IPO was identified as the best performing IPO of 2022.

Since floating, the group’s share price has increased 152% from 52.5p to 132.5p and its market cap has grown from £20m to £55.21m. Aurrigo has also continued to deliver on its key IPO objectives. In October 2022, the group signed an agreement with Changi Airport Group for the next phase of development of the Auto-Dolly, its innovative baggage transportation solution for airports, and this was shortly followed by a multi-year partnering agreement with Changi in February 2023.

ESG highlights: ESG is fundamental to Aurrigo’s mission and provides many opportunities to grow its business. The group is investing in reducing its carbon footprint and engaging in DEI initiatives including internships and in-house mentoring.

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