Aurrigo's Autonomous Baggage Tractor Set to Transform Operations at Cincinnati Airport

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 19 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Aurrigo collaborates with IAG to introduce the Auto-DollyTug® autonomous baggage tractor at CVG, marking the company's first aviation operation in the US. The all-electric vehicle, set for deployment in spring 2024, aims to enhance ground handling efficiency, with plans to expand its presence within the UK and internationally.

Coventry-based Aurrigo International is making waves in the American aviation sector with its cutting-edge Auto-DollyTug® autonomous baggage tractor. In collaboration with International Airlines Group (IAG), the company is set to deploy its innovative all-electric vehicle at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in spring 2024.

Aurrigo's Auto-DollyTug® combines the functionalities of a baggage tractor and the carrying capacity of an airport dolly, offering a 30% increase in transport capacity compared to traditional towing trailers. Beyond efficiency gains, the autonomous vehicle can autonomously load and unload baggage, promising a streamlined ground handling process.

The landmark project kickoff at CVG signifies Aurrigo's foray into the US aviation market, with plans for further deployments in the UK, Europe, and Asia in the coming year. Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, expressed enthusiasm about the venture, emphasizing the global demand for their electric and autonomous technology in the aviation sector.

Aurrigo's success extends beyond its collaboration with IAG, including a partnership with UPS for the Auto-Cargo autonomous electric vehicle designed for heavy cargo transport at East Midlands Airport.

Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG, highlighted the airport's commitment to innovation, expressing anticipation about the collaboration's potential to address industry challenges, including staffing shortages, safety, capacity, and environmental concerns.

Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio welcomed Aurrigo's autonomous technology at CVG, recognizing its potential to enhance air travel efficiency and strengthen the region's economic competitiveness.

This deployment underscores Aurrigo's position as a leader in autonomous ground handling solutions, poised to revolutionize airport operations both in the US and globally.

Read more here.

What's new

CreaTech Frontiers Launch Unlocks £250K in Funding for West Midlands Creative Innovators

Creative SMEs in the West Midlands are being given a major boost with the launch of CreaTech Frontiers, a new innovation cluster that has opened applications for the first £250,000 round of grant funding.

The programme, which offers individual grants of up to £10,000, is designed to help freelancers and small creative businesses develop groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of creativity and technology. The funding forms part of a £7.2 million, five-year initiative led by a consortium of regional powerhouses including Birmingham City University (BCU), University of Birmingham, Coventry University, University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It’s funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Research and Innovation's Creative Industries Cluster Programme.

Photo Credit: University of Warwick

Officially launched on April 29 at STEAMhouse, BCU’s innovation centre, CreaTech Frontiers marks the first time the West Midlands has received funding through this prestigious national scheme.

Professor Lamberto Coccioli, Director of CreaTech Frontiers, said:

“These early-stage grants will give creative entrepreneurs access not just to capital, but also to university-led research and resources that can turn ambitious ideas into reality. This is about unlocking cultural, social and economic value across the region.”

CreaTech Frontiers is aiming to ignite a wave of innovation in sectors like gaming, immersive tech, live performance, visual arts, and creative technologies. Successful applicants will also gain access to facilities across the five partner institutions, along with specialist academic support during the R&D phase.

Future plans include a second, larger round of grant funding, a pilot with Birmingham Opera Company, collaborative projects with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the formation of an apprenticeship working group to support skills development.

Rachel Davis, Director of Warwick Enterprise, said:

“Through this collaboration, we’re strengthening the region’s identity as a creative and tech innovation hub. With a shared focus on inclusion and sustainability, CreaTech Frontiers will ensure diverse voices are at the forefront of this growing ecosystem.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority is also backing the initiative, which it believes could contribute £65 million and create 1,500 jobs by 2030 within the regional creative and gaming economy.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added:

“Our region is full of bold, young thinkers pushing the boundaries of tech and creativity. CreaTech Frontiers connects these minds with the world-class research coming out of our universities, creating the conditions for global impact.”

Applications open Monday 2 June 2025.

Interested SMEs can register now

to be part of the next generation of CreaTech pioneers.

By Anushka Malhotra

2 May