Schiphol tests an electric autonomous vehicle for luggage transport

At Schiphol Airport, it is testing, in collaboration with KLM, an autonomous electric vehicle for transporting luggage. This test aims to separate the luggage of passengers with long connections from those destined for flights departing immediately, ensuring smoother handling.

 

Every day, Schiphol handles around 31,000 bags from passengers in transit, with most traffic concentrated in the morning hours, putting pressure on the baggage handling system. KLM Baggage Services, together with Schiphol, ensures that every piece of baggage reaches its destination on time, minimising delays and congestion.

 

To improve efficiency, Schiphol is testing an autonomous electric vehicle supplied by Aurrigo. This innovative means of transport transfers long-waiting luggage from the runway to a temporary storage area. At the appropriate time, the vehicle transports the luggage to the baggage hall for insertion into the sorting system, reducing the pressure on the management network. The vehicle is equipped with Lidar sensors and 360-degree viewing angle cameras, allowing it to move safely between other vehicles, keeping distances and braking in a timely manner. To ensure safety, a Safety Operator will always be present on board, ready to intervene in case of need.

 

The project was launched in August 2024, with the first phase dedicated to the path between the storage area and the baggage room. The vehicle used 3D cameras to map the environment of the handling area and learn to navigate autonomously. During this phase, automatic loading and unloading of containers and driving in the crowded corridors of the baggage hall were tested.

 

The second phase of the test, which started earlier this month, involves the autonomous vehicle moving around the docks at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. If the results are positive, the route will be expanded to include aircraft parking spaces. The test will continue until the end of 2025.

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