Robotics and the Future of Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
Overview The future of scheduled passenger air transportation is closely linked with advancements in robotics and automation. This information guide explores how robotics will shape different aspects of the aviation industry specifically focusing on passenger air transport. It delves into areas such as airport logistics, cabin servicing, maintenance, and flight operations. The guide also highlights how safety and reliability are critical considerations in the integration of robotics into the aviation industry. To conclude, the guide presents a key takeaway section summarizing its main points.
Airport Logistics Robotics are making remarkable impacts in the area of airport logistics, improving efficiency and lowering costs. Based on a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global automated airports market is expected to reach $14.9 billion by 2025 due in part to the continued integration of robotics and automation. Robots are being utilized for a variety of tasks, from sorting baggage to transport of goods and people within the airport. These systems can result in a significant reduction of mishandled luggage, projected to decline by 25% by 2022 as automation in airports increases.
Cabin Servicing In the realm of cabin servicing, robots can meticulously perform cleaning and sanitization duties with minimal human contact. According to the Cleaning & Maintenance Management Magazine, this reduces turnaround times by 30% or more and helps to alleviate concerns surrounding health and safety especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, robot-assisted cabin servicing can ensure thorough disinfection, which has shown to improve customer satisfaction by up to 20%.
Maintenance and Repair The implementation of robots in maintenance and repair activities is anticipated to revolutionize both pre-flight and post-flight checks. Automated inspections can lead to a reduction in AOG (aircraft on ground) time by up to 60%. Furthermore, robot-assisted repairs can reduce the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) costs by 15-20%, according to a report by Oliver Wyman.
Automated Flight Operations In automated flight operations, robotics can influence various aspects from piloting to air traffic control. Recent studies indicate that automation could potentially manage up to 60% of all flights by 2050. By utilizing robotic technology, airlines could reduce their crew costs, which typically form 30–35% of the total operating costs, significantly improving overall profitability.
Key Takeaways - Robotics will have a substantial impact on scheduled passenger air transportation, touching all areas, from airport logistics to cabin servicing, maintenance, and flight operations. - Automation in airports is projected to reduce mishandled luggage by 25% by 2022 and increase airport market value to $14.9 billion by 2025. - Robots in cabin servicing can reduce turnaround times by 30% or more and improve customer satisfaction by up to 20%. - Robotic integration in maintenance and repair can cut AOG time by up to 60% and MRO costs by 15-20%. - Automation in flight operations could manage up to 60% of all flights by 2050 and significantly reduce crew costs which comprise 30-35% of total operating costs.
3Laws Robotics Understanding the integral role that safety and reliability play in integrating robotics into any industry, 3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of developing innovative software solutions designed for this purpose. A major focus of 3Laws is to tackle the issue of certification, a key challenge faced by many robotics companies. The software 3Laws Supervisor aims to streamline the certification process by providing robust safety features and evidence of system robustness, potentially easing the certification pathway.
Built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) technology developed at Caltech, the software ensures mathematically provable safety. 3Laws has displayed efficiency across diverse use cases - from warehouse automation where it aided an autonomous forklift customer in achieving a 40% efficiency gain leading to a 6-month payback period, to safe human-robot interaction and enabling robots to navigate effectively in dynamic environments.
With the goal of boosting operational effectiveness, 3Laws minimizes downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions. By providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, it allows robots to operate closer to their peak abilities while still maintaining safety. 3Laws’ software is versatile and compatible with popular robotics middleware like ROS and ROS2.
By repositioning 3Laws as a next-gen safety solution, it transcends conventional e-stop techniques. It offers a proactive approach to safety which enables the unlocking of the full capabilities of robotics through dynamic, predictive safety. This can ultimately be safety-certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262. 3Laws Robotics is committed to shaping robotics in aviation in a manner that enhances efficiency, ensures safety, and drives the industry forward.