Driverless technology for indoor/outdoor towing at airports showcased in AWARD H2020 project

AWARD is an H2020-funded project by the European Commission, aiming to enable a safe and efficient connected and autonomous logistic chain through heavy-duty vehicles in real logistics operations. The project's airport use case is specifically focussed on EasyMile’s TractEasy tow-tractor, and its use for seamless indoor and outdoor transportation of luggage, goods and/or cargo airside.

The demonstration successfully highlighted TractEasy's ability to transition seamlessly between indoors and outdoors, cargo movement across airfields with zero emissions, marking a significant leap forward in sustainable logistics solutions. 

Throughout the event, leading experts and key stakeholders from the aviation industry exchanged insights on the integration of autonomous technologies into airports. The gathering served as a testament to the collective efforts aimed at reshaping the future of transportation and streamlining operations within airport environments. 

Julien Collier, Project Manager at EasyMile said "Driverless solutions that maneuver independently and safely in outdoor environments while being able to cross indoors, are transforming material and cargo flows." 

“These solutions are unlocking a whole new market segment and paving the way for  smarter, more streamlined airside operations," he added.

The successful integration of the AWARD sensor suite into the TractEasy showcased the platform's adaptability and resilience, highlighting its versatility in real-world testing scenarios. The extensive testing was conducted at EasyMile's home base in Toulouse, as well as on AWARD partners' sites. The solution has also served major airports for baggage and/or cargo towing including the first in the United States, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, as well as Narita International in Japan, Schiphol in the Netherlands, and operates in a fleet at Changi Airport in Singapore.

As the AWARD project propels the aviation industry toward a more sustainable future, TractEasy continues to spearhead the development of autonomous ground support equipment. It has the potential to reshape cargo transportation, bolstering efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and aligns with a new era of smart and responsible logistics. 

The tractor can operate in complex, outdoor environments with the ability to cross indoors, and without dedicated infrastructure. With a load capacity of 25 tons, it uses a range of sensors and cameras with real-time processing to maneuver independently and efficiently. This includes centimeter-precise localization at any moment, wide-range perception to handle obstacles and enhanced navigation including vehicle to infrastructure (V2X) communication, predictive control, and decisions at intersections and pedestrian crossings. 

It is the most-deployed driverless tow-tractor globally with more than 20 vehicles already in operation.

About AWARD:

AWARD project, is an H2020-funded project by the European Commission, aiming to enable a safe and efficient connected and autonomous logistic chain through heavy-duty vehicles in real logistics operations. The project is developing and operating safe autonomous transportation systems (ATS) in a wide range of real-life logistic use cases, in a variety of different scenarios. With a strong focus on innovation, EasyMile is committed to revolutionizing transportation in diverse industries, including airports, campuses, and urban environments. By combining cutting-edge technology and deep industry expertise, EasyMile plays a key role in shaping the future of mobility. The AWARD consortium members, from 12 different countries, are leading companies and innovative, growing ones recognized for their real-world applications and expertise, as well as research organisations. This maturity and mix pave the way for the replicability and sustainability of project results.  
You can follow AWARD on Linkedin and Twitter to keep updated with its next developments. 

Project Factsheet:

Duration: 1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023 
Total cost: € 26 398 799,01 
EC contribution: € 19 892 905,63 
Coordinator: EASYMILE 
Partners: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG, KAMAG TRANSPORTTECHNIK GMBH & CO.KG, TERBERG BENSCHOP BV, SMART AIRPORT SYSTEMS, DEMATIC, DFDS AS, CENTRE D ETUDES ET D EXPERTISE SUR LES RISQUES L ENVIRONNEMENT LA MOBILITE ET L AMENAGEMENT, TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY, AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH, APPLIED AUTONOMY AS, DIGITRANS GMBH, ENIDE SOLUTIONS .S.L, IRU PROJECTS ASBL, ASSOCIATION CARA, NAVTECH RADAR LIMITED, BUSINESS UPPER AUSTRIA - OO WIRTSCHAFTSAGENTUR GMBH, ITS NORGE-NORSK FORENING FOR MULTIMODALE INTELLIGENTE TRANSPORT SYSTEMER OG TJENESTER - ITS NORWAY, LINZ CENTER OF MECHATRONICS GMBH, FH OO FORSCHUNGS & ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH, AVINOR AS, ADASKY LTD, FORESIGHT AUTOMOTIVE LTD, BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO KG, CERTX AG, OTTOPIA TECHNOLOGIES LTD, AUSTRIATECH - GESELLSCHAFT DES BUNDES FUR TECHNOLOGIEPOLITISCHE MASSNAHMEN GMBH, SCHENKER & CO AG, FRANCE AVIATION CIVILE SERVICES. 

Contact:

Project Coordinator:    
Julien Collier, EasyMile 
julien.collier@easymile.com 

Dissemination Coordinator: 
Vesna Boskovic, ENIDE 
vesna.boskovic@enide.com 
Website: https://award-h2020.eu/ 
LinkedIn: AWARD-H2020 
Twitter: @award_h2020