Schiphol Airport Trials Self-Driving Buses for Ground Operations

Schiphol Airport embarks on a pioneering trial with electric autonomous buses to transport employees airside, aiming for emission-free and autonomous ground operations by 2050.

Schiphol Airport has taken a significant step towards sustainability and innovation by initiating a trial with electric, self-driving buses on its premises. This experiment involves two Ohmio autonomous buses that follow a predetermined route, stopping at various airside locations near facilities of cleaning and ground handling companies. Primarily, this shuttle service caters to employees working in these areas, aiming to assess the potential benefits and employee reception of autonomous transport within the airport environment.

During the initial phase of the trial, the focus is on rigorously testing the technology behind the buses and integrating it with the airport's infrastructure. Employee feedback is crucial at this stage, with 89% of users expressing their willingness to use the service again, citing safety and a positive overall experience. The trial, which continues until the end of April, will provide valuable insights into the feasibility of expanding autonomous transport services at Schiphol.

Jan Zekveld, Head of Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group, emphasized the trial's importance in achieving the airport's long-term goal of an emission-free and autonomous ground operation by 2050. The insights gathered from this test period are expected to significantly contribute to future autonomous developments at the airport.

The autonomous buses from Ohmio are designed to navigate fixed routes among other airside traffic, programmed to account for road users, their positions, and traffic rules. Each bus has the capacity to transport eight people, with journeys averaging around 5 minutes. This initiative not only showcases Schiphol's commitment to sustainable transport solutions but also positions it as a leader in adopting advanced technologies for airport operations.

Mohammed Hikmet of Ohmio highlighted the collaboration's significance, expressing enthusiasm for contributing to Schiphol's vision for the future of transport. Schiphol's ambition to operate the world's most sustainable airports by 2050 includes a transition to a fully autonomous, zero-emission vehicle fleet and automated processes, with employees playing a crucial, albeit more directive, role in operations. This trial marks a crucial step towards realizing these ambitious environmental and operational goals.