Schiphol Airport and KLM test self-driving baggage vehicle to improve airport efficiency and sustainability

Royal Schiphol Group, in collaboration with KLM, is deploying an all-electric, self-driving baggage vehicle from Aurrigo International plc to optimise baggage handling for passengers with long transfer times. Schiphol processes around 31,000 pieces of baggage daily, with most arriving in the morning, which can put pressure on the system.

The trial of Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® began in August, focusing on transporting baggage from the aircraft to a temporary, secured storage area. The autonomous vehicle then delivers the luggage to the baggage hall for further processing. During this phase, the vehicle mapped the platform environment with 3D cameras and learned to navigate independently, including autonomously picking up and dropping off containers.

“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,” said Jan Zekveld, Senior Manager Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group. He added that while automation is increasing, employees will still play a crucial, more varied, supervisory role.

The latest testing involves the Auto-DollyTug® navigating denser traffic on the pier, and if successful, the test routes will expand, with trials planned at aircraft stands by the end of 2025. The vehicle is equipped with LiDAR sensors and 360-degree cameras to navigate safely among other traffic, with an operator present for safety during the trial.

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. This work demonstrates a fantastic use case for our Auto-DollyTug®, enhancing efficiency while easing pressure on airport systems.”

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