The autonomous vehicles will move cargo between the warehouse and apron with the trial monitoring their ability to provide smooth driving at a constant speed as well as safety, flexible routing, monitoring and traceability of the service.
The first phase involved transporting cargo between the WFS cargo terminal and Terminal 1 using a ramp tractor equipped with automated ground vehicle (AGV) technology along a planned, point-to-point route of 2,300 metres.
Aircraft manoeuvring areas will not be entered and it will not interact with aircraft at this stage of the project.
Using AGV technology, the cargo towing tractor can recognise its environment, position itself accurately, detect obstacles at 4 and 10 metres and act to avoid collisions.
It is the first project aligned with the AGV guidelines being developed by IATA’s Ground Operations Automation and Digitization working group.
For the 10-week trial, WFS and Aena are working with GSE provider FASEREK, technology company MOVVO and towing tractor provider SIMAI.
Jordi Campderros, PMO Manager of WFS says that Barcelona airport was chosen because its perimeter tarmac road linking WFS’ premises and Terminal 1 provides an ideal environment for the project.
He says, “Given that WFS handles cargo onboard more than 25,000 import and export flights a year at Barcelona, and more than 42,000 flights in Madrid, the future benefits of AGV technology are obvious in terms of productivity gains, safety, and sustainability, and this can ultimately be replicated at airports across the globe.”