Autonomous snow plows: Stuttgart relies on smart winter service technology!

Autonomous snow plows: Stuttgart relies on smart winter service technology!

Stuttgart Airport is continuing its pioneering work in the automation of winter services with the use of autonomous snow removal vehicles. In collaboration with the Aebi Schmidt Group, the airport presented an integrated system, which was presented at the Stuttgart apron on September 21st. The new vehicles are able to clear snow and ice from runways, taxiways and aprons without a driver.

The technology behind these vehicles includes high-precision satellite-based services for route recording and autonomous processing. This system does not act in isolation, but rather interacts with other winter maintenance equipment, which was demonstrated in several tests at Stuttgart Airport. The need to remain operational even in low visibility is a key objective of this initiative. Stuttgart Airport is taking an important step towards efficient and reliable winter services in a controlled environment.

Test series and future perspectives

Winter service tests were carried out at Stuttgart and Berlin airports a few years ago. Further tests with autonomous winter service vehicles are also scheduled at Leipzig/Halle Airport at the end of June. The focus is on the reliability and efficiency of this technology when clearing slopes. According to Ralph Beisel, general manager of the airport association ADV, airports offer optimal conditions for testing autonomous systems that are relieved of the lateral challenges in road traffic.

The Aebi Schmidt Group plans to advance the market launch of autonomous devices over the next three to four years. In the previous tests, which began in 2022, a safety driver was necessary, but he did not have to actively intervene. The testing took place under various conditions, often without snow and outside of the airport's regular operating hours.

Regulatory and technological challenges

Despite the technological capabilities of autonomous vehicle technology, there are still numerous regulatory issues to be addressed, particularly regarding responsibility in the event of an incident. Berlin Airport is planning to integrate an autonomous vehicle into its winter service for 2024 and has ordered two additional machines. There are currently no further projects planned for autonomous snow clearing vehicles in Stuttgart.

In the long term, the aim is to fully automate winter service. This automation could significantly reduce personnel deployment, especially in the event of a sudden onset of winter. Ralph Beisel also points to challenges in the USA, where many machines have to be available at all times for winter service.

Overall, it shows that with these measures Stuttgart Airport is taking an important step towards innovation and efficiency in winter service, which could not only significantly improve safety but also operational readiness in the cold season. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection under the banner “SmartFleet – autonomous commercial vehicles for safe and efficient use at the airport” and also includes collaborations with other companies, such as VOLK Fahrzeugbau GmbH, which is developing an autonomous luggage tractor.

For more information on this topic, visit the coverage of ZVW as well as the article Airport Industry News.