Aebi Schmidt Group recently demonstrated to a group of customers its autonomous snow ploughs. The autonomous vehicles are intended for use at airports. Here, they not only help achieve cost savings, but also reduce CO2 emissions and increase both efficiency, safety, working conditions and flexibility.
Snow can cause many problems on runways. Therefore, clearing snow from airports is a crucial task that needs to be done accurately. Aebi Schmidt started developing autonomous snow ploughs in 2017. The machines are aimed at deployment at airports. Here, they can clear runways snow together and without human intervention.
Individual elements of the system and the system as a whole have been tested by Aebi Schmidt over the past four years. In doing so, the company worked with a range of partners, including Volvo Group subsidiary CPAC Systems and Mercedes-Benz innovation incubator Lab1886. On this basis, the system was further developed and is now ready for real-world application.
Recording and modifying routes
The system works using an editor, which allows users to record and modify routes. For location determination, the vehicles use the standards RTK or NTRIP, which allow an accuracy of 2 to 3 centimetres. Through the editor, users can also modify or add specific segments of routes. They can also specify exactly what position the snow clearance vehicles should operate in. Think of using a snow plough, brush or blower.
The vehicles feature driving assistance assistance, which can be used for both autonomous and semi-autonomous use. Thus, the system reports any deviations in the route a vehicle takes from the programmed route or the vehicle being followed. This way, operators can be sure that there is sufficient overlap in the lanes of the snow ploughs and snow is removed adequately. In semi-autonomous operation, human drivers can use the information to correct the snow plough.
Focused on the customer
Aebi Schmidt's solution is not available as a standard solution, but is always tailored to the specific customer. The manufacturer states that this way, the solution can always be optimised for the customer's specific situation. The customer can also determine the degree of autonomy himself, where it is also possible to combine autonomous, semi-autonomous and non-autonomous elements.
Aebi Schmidt itself also supplies traditional snow ploughs, both for use at airports and on public roads. These include Mercedes-Benz and MAN vehicles. The autonomous system developed by Aebi Schmidt is suitable not only for the company's own vehicles, but also for those of other brands.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
