International Airlines Group (IAG) – parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL – and Aurrigo International (Aurrigo) have commenced deployment and demonstration of the Auto-DollyTug autonomous baggage tractor at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). IAG and CVG are both Corporate Partners of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub.
“As one of the fastest-growing passenger and cargo hubs in the US and globally, CVG is always looking for innovative technologies to improve capacity and efficiency,” said Candace McGraw, Chief Executive Officer, CVG. “We look forward to working with Aurrigo and IAG to identify potential solutions to help address many of the issues that aviation currently faces: staffing shortages, safety, capacity and environmental concerns, among others.”
There is an initial deployment of one Auto-DollyTug scheduled for spring 2024. On successful completion of the demonstration through 2024, Aurrigo expects that this will lead to the expansion of additional vehicles throughout 2025.
“This partnership is an important milestone for us as it will be our first aviation operation in the USA – a key target market,” said Professor David Keene, CEO, Aurrigo. “This year we will have our autonomous vehicles operating at airports in the UK, Europe, Asia and now the US, showing the clear demand there is in the aviation sector for our technology. We’re pleased to be partnering with IAG beyond the UK and to be building a presence at a key international airport. We are demonstrating vehicles that are designed from the ground up to be electric and autonomous to provide substantial efficiency improvements in future ground handling operations.”
Auto-Sim is Aurrigo’s latest software that creates a 3D digital twin to visualise today’s operations and model the impact of new technologies such as electric and or autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, Auto-DollyTug is an all-electric, autonomous vehicle that combines the utility of a baggage tractor, with the ULD (Unit Load Device) carrying capability of an airport dolly all in one, making a more flexible and space efficient vehicle. This means that a combination of an Auto-DollyTug towing three trailers carry four ULDs, which is 30% more than a traditional tug set-up of the same overall length. Auto-DollyTug incorporates robotic arms on the body, allowing the vehicle to autonomously load and unload a ULD itself, for a truly end-to-end autonomous operation.
“As the ‘Birthplace of Aviation’, Ohioans are quick to welcome new technologies that improve air travel,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “The world is better connected to Greater Cincinnati than ever before, and Aurrigo’s decision to test their first autonomous baggage dollies in the United States at CVG will advance the airport’s efficiencies and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.”