Changi Airport Group (CAG) – a Headline Partner of FTE APEX Asia Expo, Singapore, 19-20 November 2024 – has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd and SIA Engineering Company Limited. Together, they will start a proof of concept (POC) on the use of autonomous buses to transport airport staff around Changi Airport’s airside.
The initial two-year collaboration, co-funded under the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s Aviation Development Fund, aims to contribute to Singapore’s journey to become a Smart Nation – the government’s vision for a digital-first Singapore that leverages technology to improve health, transport, urban living, government services and businesses.
The POC, commencing in Q3 2024, will validate the self-driving capabilities of the autonomous bus to gain confidence of its operational and safety performance. Monitored by an onboard safety driver, the POC will be conducted in two phases – the first phase in a sterile environment, before the second phase in the live operational environment.
This collaboration is part of Changi Airport’s collective effort to automate routine driving tasks so that airside professionals can focus on more complex activities, while presenting opportunities for job redesign and upskilling. The parties hope the POC will also encourage the wider development and deployment of autonomous solutions to improve airside productivity.
“CAG is excited to be on this innovation journey with our airport partners to trial the use of autonomous buses on the airside,” said Mr Yeo Kia Thye, Managing Director, Airport Operations Control, Changi Airport Group. “This complements ongoing automation trials, such as the use of autonomous vehicles for baggage transportation and automated Passenger Loading Bridge, to drive greater manpower productivity across our airport operations. We look forward to collaborating on further innovation trials towards our vision of an airport of the future.”
