Aurrigo explores how AVs can make airports safer

“Working with our partners, we are developing the technology and building it into our Auto-Shuttle, which will firstly be deployed in controlled environments before operating in real airport conditions at Teesside International Airport and at Cincinnati in North America.”

Sentry will build on Aurrigo International’s increasing presence in the aviation sector, with the company’s Auto-DollyTug and Auto-Cargo vehicles already in use at eight global airports.

This project has been designed to increase safety by detecting obstacles, birds, damage to runways and security issues, whilst also boosting efficiency through automated inspections and supporting aircraft to move smoothly around the airport.

For travellers, flights are less likely to be delayed due to runway inspections or safety checks.

“Our team will measure the changes the autonomous vehicles make, including staff time savings, how quickly issues were spotted and the positive effect on reducing emissions,” added Brewerton.

“Aurrigo’s technology is not about replacing people, it is about taking the cold, repetitive, three-in-the-morning jobs off the roster”

“The findings will be written up in a public report that will be shared with airports, regulators and the wider sector, providing a best practice use case for adopting more autonomous vehicles.

“Aurrigo’s technology is not about replacing people, it is about taking the cold, repetitive, three-in-the-morning jobs off the roster. It will free-up experienced staff for the work that genuinely needs human judgement and gives airports a practical way to raise their safety standards.”

Sentry, which will start in September, is part of the UK Government’s £150m Cam Pathfinder programme delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade in partnership with Zenzic and Innovate UK.  All UK Government grant funding is subject to HMG approval.

“Today’s announcement builds on the fantastic progress made by Cam Pathfinder so far and puts the UK firmly in the driving seat when it comes to developing and deploying the Cam solutions of tomorrow,” said Mark Cracknell, programme director at Zenzic.

“From construction to public roads and, airside, these projects have the potential to transform UK businesses, create and safeguard hundreds of jobs and further strengthen the domestic supply chain.”