Project description
Robotic drivers to boost airline efficiency
Between the time an aeroplane arrives at a terminal gate and the time it departs on its next flight, ground handling addresses the many service requirements of an airliner. Speed and accuracy are key. The EU-funded IVObility project will develop a robotic driver to automate services in order to reduce inefficiency, which causes 10 % of flight delays and amounts to nearly EUR 9 billion each year. The new robotic driver will be faster, safer, more robust, less dependent on human operators and able to withstand all weather conditions. The project will conduct a pilot study to demonstrate the IVObility’s capabilities. It will also enhance systems and deepen the algorithm and neuron network.
Objective
People are travelling by air each year and a common complaint is delayed flights. 10% of flight delays are caused by inefficient ground handling, amounting to €8.9 billion in losses every year. Our project aims to reduce inefficient ground handling by automating ground handling services, making them faster, safer, more robust, less dependent on human operators, and able to withstand all weather conditions. Some airports have started exploring the use of specific autonomous vehicles or kits to remotely control vehicles. However, these “solutions” can be very expensive (up to €500K/vehicle) and most are limited to very specific activities (moving baggage or shuttling passengers). BG Robotics is a spin-off of Ben-Gurion University’s Laboratory of Autonomous Robotics with 10 team members highly skilled in robotics, software/mechanical engineering and computing deep neural networks. we have developed IVObility, the first robotic driver created specifically (but not exclusively) for ground handling vehicles. In less than 10 minutes, any vehicle can be put into immediate action. An existing fleet can be used “as is” since any vehicle can be retrofitted with IVObility without the need for modifications, requiring 84% less capital expenditure than current solutions. As a next step, we want to enhance IVObility’s ruggedness, deepen its algorithm and neuron network and streamline its modular production. We will secure sales contracts with airport operators and ground handling service companies, who has committed to completing a pilot study to demonstrate IVObility’s function and verify the placement of IVObility at the airports they service.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringautonomous vehicles
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robots
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
BEER SHEVA
Israel
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.