Autonomous vehicles are gaining ground across the logistics sector – and the airfreight industry is no exception.At the Hong Kong International Airport, autonomous electric tractors (AET) have successfully been put into operation, working alongside human-driven tractors – a global first. The airport authority believes these machines can make a difference in efficiency as they allow human drivers to focus on more skilled cargo operations.Hong Kong airport, which was last year the world’s busiest cargo hub, has been expanding the use of AETs and currently has around 20 in operation.Several years of testing were undertaken before the tractors were introduced into the operation to allow the Airport Authority Hong Kong to develop an operation that it says is smoother, safer and more reliable than using traditional tractors. With no driver in the AET, it moves at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour and is equipped with a highly accurate GPS system with a range of error of just 10 to 15cm.If anything appears within 10 metres of the AET, it will stop immediately – a response time that is much faster than that of a human. This is because the AET instantly detects objects and calculates the distance of its surroundings within a range of 10-35m. The braking system is immediately triggered if anything is detected, and the AET slows down until it stops within 10m of the detected object.There are two sets, a total of eight HD cameras mounted on the sides of the AET, and three lidar sensors to ensure safety and f lexibility.According to the airport, it has addressed several challenges with the introduction of AETs into its operation such as driver shortages or weather issues. It has also seen a reduction in accidents and improved operational efficiency.
