march2022 - 30

Technology
Autonomous Vehicles Gaining
Traction in Ground Support
Understanding autonomous technology and how it can optimize ground support
operations is important for airline, airport and ground handling professionals.
BY MICHAEL REINKOBER
A
utonomous vehicles are no longer a futuristic
concept. They are here and are proving very
valuable across diverse industry operations. Regular
use of such vehicles in airport ground operations is just a
matter of time - and most likely it will be sooner rather than
later. That is not to say there are not any challenges.
The need for more universal communications standards and
more reliable transmission technologies to support telematics,
as well as roadway considerations are among these challenges.
Still, there remains great potential for driving improved
Telematics used for autonomous GSE will
help to ensure a heightened level of data
transparency and situational awareness, such
as providing the estimated arrival time for
wheelchair passengers to a connecting gate.
ground support operations and related benefits by using
autonomous vehicles.
Understanding the current state of autonomous vehicle
technologies and how they will further optimize ground
support operations is important for airline, airport and ground
handling professionals.
Optimization Software Helping
to Steer Autonomous Vehicles
At the core of successful autonomous vehicles will be
advanced optimization software to support operations ranging
from autonomous baggage handling to docking of jetways,
steering passenger and cabin crew buses and fueling trucks.
Optimization software will be instrumental in terms of
optimizing staff and ground support equipment (GSE) in the
management of both aircraft and passengers. Leveraging
this software, which incorporates artificial intelligence
(AI), machine learning and proprietary algorithms, we will
start seeing staff and autonomous GSE performing many of
the same tasks.
This becomes increasingly more valuable as labor shortages,
due to low paying work and the physical demands of these
tasks, continue to grow.
Optimization software-driven autonomous vehicles will
also prove an asset in mitigating safety problems stemming
from human error and carelessness. Another advantage of
autonomous vehicles in certain applications is that, unlike
humans who require certain qualifications and regular
practice for performing certain functions, autonomous
vehicles do not. Further, they are available on a 24/7/365 basis
with the only exception being when they are being maintained
and/or having their batteries replaced.
There is still a way to go to gain the full value of
autonomous vehicles, which will require industry
collaboration and greater strides in meeting various
technology and infrastructure needs.
The Work to Be Done
While telematics used for autonomous GSE will help to ensure
a heightened level of data transparency and situational
awareness (e.g., providing the estimated arrival time for
wheelchair passengers to a connecting gate, or for tail-to-tail
30 || Ground Support Worldwide || March 2022
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march2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of march2022
