Aurrigo unveils autonomous Auto-Cargo ULD transporter
Aurrigo unveils autonomous Auto-Cargo ULD transporter
Aurrigo has unveiled the Auto-Cargo – an electric, autonomous vehicle designed to carry a standard cargo pallet or two ULDs.
Aurrigo and Aviation Solutions join forces to commercialise autonomous baggage handling at airports
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
Helpful links:
www.aurrigo.com
About Aurrigo
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.
For more information, see www.aurrigo.com
About Aviation Solutions – by Schiphol Group
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.
For more information, see Schiphol | Aviation Solutions.
Take Off Podcast Episode 6 – Maria Venus Thomas – Head of Autonomy
🌟 Episode 6 of Take Off is now live! 🎙️
✨ Title: Breaking Barriers: Women Driving Innovation in Tech
🎧 Special Guest: Maria Venus Thomas, Head of Autonomy
🚀 Following #IWD, we’re celebrating Maria Venus Thomas—an engineer, a mother of two, and a trailblazer in autonomy. Originally from India, Maria moved to the UK to pursue engineering, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Over the past 10 years at Aurrigo, she has played a pivotal role in developing Aurrigo’s versatile autonomous drive platform, driving innovation across aviation and ground handling.
💜 Here’s to the women in #STEM, in leadership, and in every space where they continue to drive change!
🎥 Watch or 🎧 listen now on your favorite podcast platform or on our website here:
#InternationalWomensDay #WomenInTech #Autonomy #EngineeringLeadership
Auto-DollyTug® aims to streamline baggage transfer with Schiphol
Royal Schiphol Group in collaboration with KLM is deploying a new self-driving baggage vehicle from Aurrigo International plc to help it optimise the separation of passenger baggage with long transfer times.
On an average day, Schiphol handles around 31,000 pieces of baggage from transferring passengers. Most of this luggage is processed in the morning, putting pressure on the baggage system and handling operations. KLM Baggage Services, together with Schiphol, ensures that all baggage reaches the right connection on time.
To transport baggage streams more efficiently, Schiphol is testing an electric, self-driving baggage vehicle supplied by Aurrigo. This autonomous vehicle transports luggage from passengers with long layovers from the aircraft to a temporary, secured storage location.
The first phase of the all-electric Auto-DollyTug® trial began in August last year, testing the route from the temporary baggage storage area to a secured storage location. At the appropriate time the autonomous vehicle then delivers the baggage to the baggage hall, where it can be entered into the system and further processed to the connecting fleet. During this time, the vehicle mapped the platform environment using 3D cameras and learned how to navigate independently. Step-by-step, various aspects were trialled, such as autonomously picking up and dropping off containers and maneuvering through the busy baggage hall.
“Schiphol is committed to creating a more sustainable, emission-free ground operation. We are replacing our entire vehicle fleet with a connected network of autonomous, emission-free vehicles. By doing so we automate all related processes. Even in an autonomous ground operation, employees will continue to play a crucial role, with their work becoming more varied and supervisory.” commented Jan Zekveld, Senior Manager Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group.
The latest testing involves Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® operating on the pier, where it must navigate denser traffic. If this is successful, the test routes will be expanded, and eventually, the vehicle will be tested at aircraft stands by the end of 2025. The autonomous vehicle is equipped with LiDAR sensors and 360-degree cameras, enabling it to navigate safely among other traffic, brake in time, and maintain sufficient distance. For safety purposes, an Operator will always be present in the vehicle during the trial to intervene if necessary.
Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “Working with forward-thinking partners like Schiphol and KLM to bring autonomous solutions to real-world aviation challenges is very exciting. “The work we are doing demonstrates a fantastic use case for our self-driving Auto-DollyTug®, showcasing how automation can enhance efficiency while supporting the workload for baggage handlers and easing pressure on airport systems. We’re proud to support Schiphol’s vision for a smarter, more sustainable future in ground operations.”
For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com or follow the company across its social media channels.
Lights, Camera, Aurrigo: How Hollywood is Shaping Our Brand
🌟 Episode 3 of Take Off is now live! 🎙️
✨ Title: Lights, Camera, Aurrigo: How Hollywood is Shaping Our Brand
🎧 Special Guest: Chris Keefe
🚀 In this episode, we learn about Aurrigo’s VP of Creative & Digital Marketing’s journey from Hollywood to Ottawa. From working on films starring A-list celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Bacon, to documentaries capturing hashtagtechforgood at Not Impossible Labs, hear how he is bringing top-tier media production to the world of autonomous technology.
