Michigan Airport Joins Pilot Program For Autonomous Wheelchairs

Making your way through an airport can be one of the most daunting tasks on the body as it involves lots of walking, carrying/wheeling bags around, and sometimes even climbing stairs. This doesn't even mention the thousands of other passengers trying to shop, get food, or find their way to their gate. The airport is a jumbled mess of people trying to avoid everyone while getting to their destination on time.

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For some people, they can't make their way through the airport swiftly without assistance. This can be for a number of reasons but there is an entire team of people who are hired just to help these passengers navigate the airport. They will use wheelchairs to allow the passengers to rest but also to get them to their destination in a timely manner.

As we know, humans have been trying to find ways for artificial intelligence to make our lives easier and take some tasks off our hands. For some things, this is a great idea but in the same token, these advancements are taking jobs from able bodied people who need them. It's not a clear-cut decision but pilot programs are always helpful in making those decisions easier.

Autonomous Wheelchair Pilot Program Comes To Michigan Airport

Millions of people fly in and out of Michigan every year through several airports, but none are busier than the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. This is why DTW chose to partner with Unifi to introduce a pilot program for autonomous wheelchairs. The pilot program is running to see if the autonomous wheelchairs are a viable option for customers who have difficulty walking or navigating the airport.

The autonomous wheelchairs are named WHILL and are programmed to pick passengers up from their location and take them to their desired location. Once WHILL has dropped the passenger off they return to home base awaiting another customer's request. They do have intuitive, simple controls that can be paused and used by customers at any time.

There are also the following safeguards put into place to keep the wheelchair, riding passenger, and surrounding individuals safe:

• Collision Avoidance: Sensors to detect obstacles and engage automatic brakes.
• Path Mapping: Pre-mapped routes to ensure safe, efficient navigation.
• Redundancy & Monitoring: Backup systems and remote supervision ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations.
• Emergency Stop: Each device is equipped with an emergency stop button for added safety.

The maps and routes that are programmed into the WHILLs are updated regularly to ensure that passengers are traveling in the most efficient and effective paths. Although the WHILL service is available, the Detroit airport still provides traditional wheelchair service to its customers upon request.

Below is a video of one of the WHILL autonomous wheelchairs in action:

WHILL Autonomous Wheelchair Detroit Airport