Towards tarmac automation
For two months now, Groupe ADP and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo have been testing, at Paris CDG, an airside cargo transport solution with an autonomous electric vehicle from French startup Orok. Winner of Groupe ADP's 2020 "Play Your Airport" innovation challenge, Orok has developed a solution with autonomous electric vehicles for transporting cargo.
Carried out in Air France Cargo's "G1XL" warehouse, the trial consists, initially, in transporting empty aircraft containers between two areas inside the warehouse using a "demokart" prototype vehicle.
The tests will gradually evolve with the use of a new generation of more efficient vehicles. The advantages are obvious: decrease of accidents on the runway, faster deliveries of goods or luggage, reduction of surface requirements for manoeuvring. (ah)