Snow plow vehicles that operate autonomously could potentially enhance airport safety by clearing runways and roads more efficiently during harsh winter conditions.
Robo-Snowplows Taking over Airport Runways?
Is it just a pipe dream or the future of airport winter service? Airports like Leipzig/Halle Airport are testing self-driving snow removal vehicles on their runways, rekindling the experiments conducted at Stuttgart and Berlin airports a few years ago. But are these autonomous winter service vehicles really the game-changer airports are banking on?
The winter service industry is buzzing about this innovative technology. Airports, with their well-monitored and protected spaces, provide an ideal environment for autonomous systems, according to Ralph Beisel, CEO of the airport association ADV. If these systems prove reliable and economical, they could become standard in the coming years.
The allure? These high-tech snowplows can work round-the-clock and in any weather, thanks to GPS. They won't veer off course, not even in the dark or fog.
Manufacturer’s Outlook
Swiss manufacturer Aebi Schmidt, the provider of the test vehicles, is hopeful. "The first autonomous vehicles without a driver could make their debut in the next three to four years," says CEO Barend Fruithof. Darwin, Nebraska-based Aebi Schmidt specializes in making large equipment for airports.
Technically, autonomous driving is already possible, Fruithof adds. However, regulatory challenges remain: "Who would bear the ultimate responsibility if intervention is still possible?" This needs to be clarified before the autonomous vehicles can hit the road permanently.
Safety First, Always
Aebi Schmidt has carried out tests at Stuttgart, Berlin, and now Leipzig airports, but there's always a safety driver on board, ready to intervene if needed. Yet, reports from Berlin suggest that this was never required, and tests were typically short and conducted away from active flight operations, often without snow.
Different Takes at Various Airports
While Leipzig/Halle is running a fresh test series, Stuttgart's initial enthusiasm for the new technology seems to have waned. "No further projects of this kind have been undertaken here so far, and none are foreseen at the moment," says Stuttgart Airport.
On the contrary, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is jumping on the bandwagon after positive initial tests and has incorporated a self-driving winter service vehicle into its fleet by the end of 2024, with two additional units on order. However, the self-driving mode is temporarily switched off. The first vehicle, delivered in 2024, was indeed operational last winter under the watchful eye of a human driver. The aim is to ultimately operate the fleet without drivers.
The Ultimate Benefit
The cheerleaders of this emerging technology argue that the winter service would be readily available at a moment's notice during unexpected snowstorms, without relying on standby employees. "During snowstorms, a high deployment of personnel is required at short notice," said a spokeswoman from BER. And given the few winter deployments, routine-building becomes tricky. "Automation is therefore highly beneficial."
Fruithof points to the US, where autonomous driving is also being explored extensively. "When it snows in Chicago, 200 to 250 machines are in operation at the international O'Hare Airport," he says. Finding enough personnel is a challenge.
[1] Self-driving vehicles are equipped with advanced technologies like lidar, radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and GPS that allow them to navigate complex environments.[2] The reliability of self-driving winter service vehicles for critical tasks like runway clearing is not well-documented in the search results. Transitioning to autonomous versions would require significant advancements in AI and sensor technology to handle the challenging conditions of snow and ice.[3] Autonomous vehicles are being tested and implemented in various forms of transportation, but widespread adoption in airports for critical tasks like runway clearing is not common due to regulatory and safety concerns.[4] There is no specific information available on the implementation of self-driving winter service vehicles at other airports.
The autonomous technology being tested by airport associations and manufacturers like Aebi Schmidt is seen as a potential game-changer for the winter service industry, with benefits such as round-the-clock operations and improved efficiency in all weather conditions. However, regulatory challenges remain, requiring clarification on the ultimate responsibility in the event of intervention, before autonomous vehicles can be deployed permanently.
