Airport Technology Award For Baggage-Handling Robot

Advanced robotic handling technology deployed at the Netherland's Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has been recognised with an award.

The award, given for innovation, was presented at the Inter Airport Europe event, which was held in Munich between 11-14 October 2011. The 18th in the series, Inter Airport Europe 2011 had over 600 exhibiting companies present, representing a total of 34 nations. Four innovation awards were presented, highlighting the European airport sector's technological achievements over the preceding 12 months.

The Integrated Robot Loading system claimed the ‘InterTerminal' award, while Israel Aerospace Industries' TAXIBOT got given the ‘InterRamp' award, Northrop Grumman's ARC (Airport Realtime Collaboration) got the ‘InterData' and Tautmann's Stackable Wheelchair the ‘InterDesign' award.

Airport Baggage Robot

The airport baggage robot system was dreamt up by officials at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and developed through a partnership established between Grenzebach Automation and Vanderlande Industries.

It literally reduces the load placed on baggage staff by allowing all checked-in and transferred passenger baggage to be stored in one main area, then handled by a robot when needed. This robot automatically loads up containers and luggage carts - a task previously carried out by hand. Not only does this mean that, in theory, workers can be redirected to carry out other tasks but, according to its developers, this provides a more efficient way of handling baggage, too.

Airport Innovation Award

The airport innovation award was presented to representatives from both of the firms responsible for lifting the robotic baggage system idea from paper to reality.

"What initially was a smart idea from Schiphol has lead to a common vision", Grenzebach Automation's airport logistic director, Doctor Joachim Döhner, told those present at the event. "After several years of hard work this vision has been successfully realised, thanks to the creativity, enthusiasm and perseverance of all the people involved, including specifically our partners and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol who have joined us on this journey."

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the Netherland's biggest airport and it's the main hub for several carriers, including Amsterdam Airlines, Martinair and KLM. It handled a total of 45.3 million passengers last year, along with over one and a half million tonnes of freight.

Aircraft movements have been taking place at the site since 1916 and in 2010, there were no less than 402,372.

Image copyright and courtesy of Grenzebach Automation

See also:

More information on the Airport Baggage Robot

Companies supplying Baggage-Handling Systems