Autonomous technology specialist Aurrigo secures funding for East Midlands’ airport project

Aurrigo International plc, a UK-based specialist in autonomous technology, has received nearly £700,000 in funding from The Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Enhancements programme. This funding will support its “Ramp Ready” project, which will expand its autonomous cargo work at East Midlands Airport. The company, which employs over 110 people at its engineering centre in Coventry, will deploy two of its Auto-Cargo autonomous vehicles and one eight-passenger Auto-Shuttle.

The project’s objective is to develop a multi-vehicle fleet framework for airside logistics over the next nine months, allowing for the simultaneous transport of both cargo and aircrew. The work includes improvements to environmental testing, expanded simulation capabilities, and modular, low-volume manufacturing to lower costs and increase scalability. The project also aims to support the commercial readiness of both cargo and passenger autonomous vehicles and to gather operational data for future development.

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “Auto-Cargo is our largest aviation vehicle to date and is set to transform airside logistics by autonomously carrying a total payload of 16,500kg. The vehicle is a fully electric, zero emission alternative to existing diesel-powered models. The latest funding will allow us to accelerate deployment at East Midlands Airport, as well as integrating our Auto-Shuttle to cater for short distance passenger and staff transport. It’s about proving out a multi-fleet approach, as well as gaining valuable insights into real-world situations that we can build into our solutions as we scale.”

Ramp Ready is one of four projects by Aurrigo International that have received a total of £1 million in funding to advance sustainable airport and transport developments. The grants, from The Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Enhancements programme and Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme, will allow the company to conduct simulations, feasibility studies, and real-world vehicle trials in The Orkney Islands and the West Midlands. These projects involve partnerships with International Airlines Group (IAG), Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), and Urban Foresight.

Image source: Aurrigo