Japanese tech company Soliton Systems is conducting the first trials of a remote-controlled driverless baggage tractor at Chubu International Airport in cooperation with Japan Airlines and Chubu Sky Support (CSS).
Driverless baggage tractor. Credit: Soliton
Credit: Soliton
The tractor is an existing, operational vehicle that has been modified with Solition's remote control system. It will be remotely driven by CSS employees who are already qualified to operate the tractor at Chubu Airport from the tele-driving centre in the nearby city of Nagoya.
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Communication between the tractor and the tele-driving centre is done through Soliton's Smart-telecaster Zao series of video transmission devices, which the company says enables "high stability, ultra-low latency in video streaming and control communication".
The trial aims to make improvements to the productivity of freight-towing vehicles in airports.
In a statement, Soliton said: "The trial will demonstrate that a remote system equipped with functions such as obstacle detection warning, will allow airport stakeholders situated outside the airport to recognise and judge the driving conditions based on these trials and ensure that safety is never compromised while opening up new opportunities for increased efficiency, especially in a world where there is a lot of pressure on airport operators post-Covid."
The tele-driving system utilises Soltion's remote driving and remote automated driving technologies, both of which have already been used in trials on public roads, and in other environments including construction sites and ports.
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The trials will look at the effectiveness of remote driving of baggage tractors, and the role they have in improving the productivity of airport operations, as well as the possibility of using remote staff located anywhere in the world to control the vehicles.
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