Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), together with KLM Cityhopper and KLM Ground services, announced on July 26, 2024, the start of the second phase of testing for its electric self-driving shuttle service.
The trial, which will continue until the end of July 2024, aims to evaluate how the autonomous shuttles operate in a crowded, busy airport environment.
“We’re curious about the insights we’ll gain at this location, particularly because punctuality and safety are crucial on this route,” Jan Zekveld, Head of Innovation Schiphol, commented in a press release. “We’re also curious how airline crew members experience self-driving transport. This will help to build trust in the technology and potentially facilitates future integration of other self-driving vehicles.”
The trial’s second phase involves testing electric, self-driving buses on a fixed, pre-programmed route to and from the apron.
These self-driving buses are able to safely transport KLM Cityhopper crew members from the aircraft to the terminal several times a day. Additionally, it is expected that these buses can travel around the apron, helping with flight handling operations.
The new autonomous buses are equipped with sensors, special cameras, GPS, and LIDAR technology for a 360-degree view. This allows them to detect and maneuver around objects up to 30 meters away.
Schiphol first tested the autonomous buses from New Zealand-based manufacturer Ohmio in a trial run in March 2024. During the initial stage of the trial, the buses’ technology was tested and customized for Schiphol Airport’s infrastructure.