Exercise in summer: Leipzig Airport tests robotic snow plows

A new test run with self-driving winter service vehicles starts at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Monday. For one week, autonomous snow clearing vehicles will be tested in perfect summer weather to see how reliably they work, the airport told dpa. Further test runs are planned for July and August

Four robot snow ploughs are ready for the test run, said an airport spokesperson. They will only be practiced during the day and away from ongoing operations on a cordoned-off area of the apron. An experienced winter service driver is always on board, but should only intervene in an emergency. A special permit was therefore not required for the test. Because: "There are no empty cabs here."

The fact that the test is taking place in the middle of summer is not a problem. After all, it's not about pushing snow, but about autonomous driving. And you don't need snow or ice for that. The first tests with robot snow ploughs had already taken place in Schkeuditz in 2023, also in summer and always with a safety driver on board.

Manufacturer expects breakthrough in 3 to 4 years

The autonomous snow ploughs for the test are provided by Swiss manufacturer Aebi Schmidt, which also equipped the 2023 trial run. Similar tests have already been carried out at Berlin and Stuttgart airports. The manufacturer is confident: in three to four years, the first autonomous devices without drivers should be in normal use. According to Aebi Schmidt, it is the world leader in clearing vehicles for runways.

The industry has high hopes for the new technology. Airports are "particularly suitable locations for autonomous systems, as they offer a clearly demarcated, controlled environment", said Ralph Beisel, Managing Director of the German Airports Association ADV, to dpa at the beginning of June. "If these systems prove to be reliable and economical, they could become the standard in the next few years."

The advantage: the robot snow ploughs can work around the clock and in any weather. And thanks to GPS navigation, they don't stray off course even in the dark or in fog. What's more, the winter service would be ready for action at any time in the event of a sudden onset of winter, without having to call staff from standby first. Even in the middle of the night, when it is peak rush hour at the DHL freight hub in Leipzig/Halle.