DALLAS — Robotics has been crucial in many industries, from automotive to manufacturing, for decades, but its rollout in aviation has been slower. Airports often use automated conveyors, and autopilot has brought automation to planes themselves, but beyond that, robots at airports have been a relatively rare sight. That may not be the case for long, though.

More airports today are implementing autonomous trolleys, other automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and similar robots to streamline luggage handling. While some facilities may still face obstacles in joining this trend, it could have big implications for the industry as a whole.

How Luggage Robots at Airports Could Be Beneficial

Luggage handling is far from the only part of airport operations but is ripe for automation. Both passengers and businesses benefit heavily from this technology thanks to a few key advantages.

Lower Lost Luggage Risks

One of the biggest impacts of airport robots is their ability to reduce luggage loss. U.S. airlines alone lose 2 million suitcases annually, often because of human error. Handlers may misplace bags, overlook cases or accidentally swap similar items, but machines are less likely to make such mistakes.

Automated systems can identify bags by RFID tags or similar tracking mechanisms. Because they would operate off of hard data instead of appearances, they can ensure every suitcase gets put on the plane it needs to be and recognize when something is missing or out of place. Robots also do not get tired or distracted, so they always deliver the same accuracy.

Autonomous tracking solutions also mean airports increase visibility in the less likely event of misplacement. Airlines can then resolve the issue and deliver the bag to its rightful owner before too much time passes.

Faster Operations

Autonomous trolleys also work faster than manual alternatives. Even the most experienced employee cannot match a machine’s speed, which is part of why automated conveyors have become standard, and luggage-handling robots can bring similar benefits elsewhere.

Robotic handling systems can move faster than what would be safe for humans. This efficiency has two key advantages. First, it ensures airport employees can move on to other tasks in less time, leading to fewer delays. Secondly, passengers can retrieve their bags sooner, giving them more time when traveling, leading to higher satisfaction.

Robots can deliver similar benefits without moving at high speeds. In some cases, their efficiency stems from increasing operational capacity. AGVs can amplify the work of their human co-workers so the team can accomplish tasks faster without taking away from other processes.

Mitigated Labor Shortages

Relatedly, airport robots help address ongoing workforce shortages. Many airports do not have as many ground workers as they need. These gaps are so significant that they heavily contributed to cutting flight schedules during 2022’s global travel issues, and many persist today. Automation offers a solution.

A larger fleet of AGVs moving luggage on and off planes means airlines need fewer ground workers to do so. As a result, the existing employees can accomplish more work despite a constrained workforce. 

Robots in other roles have similar effects. Using automation to accomplish repetitive, time-consuming tasks allows human workers to focus on other valuable tasks, like serving customers, and raise overall productivity despite hiring challenges. While automation does not end labor shortages, it minimizes their impact.

Improved Safety

Robots also make ground crew work safer. While luggage handling may not seem dangerous initially, overextension is the second most common injury type, leading to days away from work. Repeated motions and heavy lifting can easily hurt employees’ joints or cause muscle issues, making them ideal automation candidates.

Autonomous trolleys can move bags while human employees manage less strenuous tasks. Alternatively, robots can work alongside humans to reduce the number of suitcases they must pick up and set down. In either case, automation reduces repetitive stress, lowering musculoskeletal risks.

The resulting safety has benefits beyond worker well-being. As airports become safer, employee engagement and morale may rise, leading to greater satisfaction and less turnover.

Better Security

The rising number of robots at airports may also lead to better security. Conventional baggage handling leaves significant room for theft, as suitcases go through so many hands with relatively minimal oversight. 

Airports can automate luggage handling workflows that occur behind closed doors while keeping human employees in more open, public areas. The added accountability and limited access to passengers’ belongings make theft less likely.

Automated solutions using an RFID or related tracking system may add further visibility. When an autonomous system can see where every bag is in real time and where it passes through, suspicious activity is more apparent. Consequently, airlines can investigate potential issues faster and more accurately, ultimately discouraging unwanted behaviors.

Challenges of Robots at Airports andthe Road Ahead

Airport robotics adoption, particularly in luggage handling, has increased in recent years as more facilities have noticed these benefits. However, there are some lingering obstacles that may hinder further growth.

Costs

Costs and complexity are among the most significant. AGVs, real-time tracking solutions and similar autonomous technologies are expensive. While they eventually lead to cost savings through their efficiency, the initial investment is not always viable in a low-margin industry like aviation. Implementing them may come with additional infrastructure costs or disruption as facilities learn how to use them properly.

Better robot design can help, as 70% of manufacturing expenses stem from early design decisions. Further research and development will also drive costs down, and airlines can balance costs by slowly adopting the technology, one bot at a time. Still, the financial barrier is high enough that automation will likely seep into the industry rather than take it over.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity poses another concern. While robots may be physically safer and can reduce theft, many rely on inter-device connectivity. These connections may open them to hacking and other cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks against aviation have risen by 74% since 2020, so airlines cannot overlook this concern. The solution is apparent — better cybersecurity training for employees and more advanced network security controls — but these fixes also mean additional costs and delayed implementation.

Workforce Adoption

Workforce challenges are also worth considering. Automation may resolve labor gaps rather than take jobs today, but it can still make employees uneasy and disrupt their workflows. Airports must invest in upskilling their workforce and training them to work alongside robots to ensure a smooth rollout.

Automation Is the Future of Airport Operations

Despite these obstacles, the potential of baggage-handling robots at airports is impossible to ignore. As the industry learns how best to implement this technology, it will slowly rewrite how airports operate.

Robots may not disrupt aviation as quickly as they did in industries like manufacturing, but change is incoming. Preparation is key to making the most of these advancements.