Aurrigo progresses self-driving baggage vehicle trial at Schiphol
Royal Schiphol Group, the owner of the Amsterdam airport, in collaboration with KLM, is deploying a new self-driving baggage vehicle from Coventry-based autonomous airside vehicle manufacturer Aurrigo International to help it optimise the separation of passenger baggage with long transfer times.
The latest project comes as Aurrigo International plc reported revenues of £8.9m, in line with expectations, and an adjusted EBITDA loss of £1.9m, ahead of expectations, with loss before tax also expected to be better than expectations as a result.
The autonomous division continued to grow strongly, delivering revenue of £2.9m, up an impressive 433 per cent from the prior year. The Automotive division continues to underpin the company's performance and deliver steady cash generation and is expected to report revenue of £5.9m, comparable with the prior year (2023: £6.1m).
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, said: "FY24 was another significant year of success for Aurrigo. The team has worked tirelessly to drive growth and deliver best in class services and solutions for our customers. The strong growth we have seen in the Autonomous division reflects the demand for our smart airside solutions as airports seek to reduce costs and emissions while improving efficiency. With an expanding partner network and healthy sales pipeline, we look ahead to further Autonomous growth, supported by our Automotive division."
The first phase of the Auto-DollyTug trial at Schipol airport 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 delivers the baggage to the baggage hall, where it can be entered into the system and further processed to the connecting fleet.
“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,” commented Jan Zekveld, Senior Manager Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group.
“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.”
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.”
