The Autonomous Airport - node in future drone deliveries

Purpose and goal:

The project has developed concepts for a technical and commercial solution for The Autonomous Airport, focusing on airports as enabling node in a logistics system with drones. The project has investigated technical and design conditions for the airport as a node for drones.

The purpose, to investigate and describe a scalable development direction for airports against the background of increasing digitalisation and electrification has been fulfilled, as well as the set objective. The report and video had a greater impact than the project´s seminars, with real business as results.

Expected results and effects:

The report summarizes that airports have many of the capabilities required to host and develop infrastructure and technology solutions that include drone air transport.

As drone operators establish operations in Sweden, the assessment is that airports will form a sought-after base for the drone operator. Partly through an already existing logistics with shipments by cargo flight. Partly through the physical installations needed to physically and regulatory conduct air transport. Both inside and outside the airport area.

Approach and implementation:

The project has brought together a broad grouping of airports. State and non-state. Big and small.

The project work has been carried out in a form where all project parties participate and contribute. Due to the pandemic, the work has been carried out with connected monthly meetings with a predetermined project plan and agenda. The project parties have been given the opportunity to prepare their contributions by writing in the joint project web-document.

The unifying force has been "the node", regardless of ownership and size. This way, a minimum common denominator has been formulated.