Coventry's Aurrigo takes autonomous baggage handling to Singapore
Coventry-based Aurrigo International plc, a specialist in automated ground handling technology for baggage and cargo operations, is to deploy a fleet of four autonomous baggage handling vehicles to pilot underwing operations at Singapore's Changi Airport Group (CAG).
Over the course of the past two years, the Auto-DollyTug has demonstrated its ability to manoeuvre on the apron at Changi Airport while interacting with traditional ground service equipment (GSE).
The next phase will focus on testing the Auto-DollyTugs’ fleet communication through Aurrigo’s Auto-Connect platform, enabling them to be scheduled and monitored to support the turnaround of a wide body flight.
It is expected that this new generation of airport baggage handling vehicles, designed, engineered and built in the UK, will arrive in Singapore in the coming months.
Beyond concept validation phase, these vehicles will play a critical role in supporting the turnaround of wide-body flights to achieve efficiency savings, environmental improvements and to alleviate labour shortages impacting the global aviation sector.
Professor David Keene, Chief Executive Officer at Aurrigo, said: “This is a milestone moment for the aviation sector and paves the way for the future adoption of our Auto-DollyTugs for servicing of live flights in the near term. Changi Airport Group has been exploring this technology with us since 2020 and the results of significant testing has given it the confidence to place this next contract with us.”
Efficiently turning around a wide-body flight demands seamless coordination among multiple stakeholders.
Auto-DollyTug introduces pioneering features that elevate efficiencies beyond the capabilities of today's standard tow tractors. With Aurrigo’s patented sideways drive system, this innovative tractor can manoeuvre directly sideways into confined spaces within the baggage hall and amidst ground service equipment (GSE) on the apron.
Additionally, its 360-degree tank turn capabilities and integrated robotic arms enable the vehicle to automatically load and unload unit load devices (ULDs) with precision, streamlining operations.
Ms Poh Li San, Senior Vice President, Terminal 5 Specialised Systems at Changi Airport Group, concluded:
“We look forward to trialing the fleet of four Auto-DollyTugs in Phase 2B and to validate our new concept of operations to support the turnaround of a widebody flight together with our ground handlers.”
