British Airways has started testing
fully autonomous vehicles at New York’s JFK Airport.
The one-person, electric vehicles are intended to help customers navigate the airport terminal.
The vehicles are equipped
with anti-collision technology and allow customers to set their preferred destination within the airport and navigate without the need for assistance.
Customers also can change destinations on
the way to the boarding gate.
Once it arrives at the gate and the customer is out of the vehicle, it self-drives back to the docking station.
“Over the next few months, we will
be collaborating on a further trial at our busy home hub at Heathrow Terminal 5 to gather more feedback and explore the introduction of this technology alongside our team of customer service
professionals to provide a truly seamless and accessible airport experience,” stated Ricardo Vidal, British Airways’ head of innovation. “I’m excited about the future of
inclusive innovation to support the accelerating demand for accessible air travel.”
The self-driving vehicles are intended for travelers requiring additional assistance.