State-of-Technology Review-Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems in Airport Environments

Details

• Creators:
  Woltmann, Sarah ; Rybski, Paul ; Becicka, Troy ; Breen, Joe ; Thompson, Kent ; Ackermann, Adam ; Schaffer, Logan ; Hull, Luke ; Hubbard, Sarah
• Corporate Creators:
  Applied Research Associates, Inc. ; Woolpert, Inc ; Purdue University
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Airports Safety and Standards
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Airports Autonomous Vehicles Ground Vehicles State Of The Practice
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/TC-26/21
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/98m5-s691
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Contracting Officer:
  Vitagliano, Lauren
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center
• Abstract:
  As airports increasingly explore autonomous ground vehicle system technology (AGVS) to enhance operational efficiency and safety, the integration, validation, and regulatory compliance of those systems pose challenges. The adoption of AGVSs within airport environments-both nationally and internationally-has accelerated due to growing demands for efficiency and automation. Airports have begun testing AGVSs across various functions, including self-driving jet bridges, aircraft tugs, baggage carts, deicing vehicles, employee shuttles, mowers, foreign object debris collection, and perimeter inspections. While non-movement areas provide controlled conditions for AGVS experimentation, the movement area presents greater challenges due to high-speed aircraft operations and strict regulatory oversight.
  
  This state-of-technology assessment includes a literature review and outreach effort that were conducted to provide insights from industry stakeholders into the current state of AGVS technology in areas that may be beneficial for airport use. The literature review and outreach efforts aided in identifying existing standards, test approaches, and risk mitigations from currently implemented AGVS solutions. This report summarizes and synthesizes the key facts of these efforts. The research team conducted virtual discussions with representatives from airports and other entities involved with AGVS use at airports to document their experiences and perspectives on AGVS integration at airports.
  
  These research findings identified key challenges associated with navigating complex airfield environments, interoperability with existing airport systems, and the impact of radio frequency interference with AGVS operations. Despite these challenges, the findings demonstrate that AGVS testing within airport environments can be successfully conducted, highlighting the technology's potential to significantly enhance operational efficiency and safety.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  692M15-22-D-00004, 692M15-24-F-00027
• Collection(s):
  Autonomous Vehicles FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e89001e9159ee5bac43073bce2732dfd37755737f971d6b10de2fa16790c59a9891016a71ff5d992a9776c16cd8245c89c4be127592fe027bbb86a13aadb1f53
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93130/dot_93130_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.71 MB ]