Civil Aviation Resources Network, November 1, 2024: According to foreign media reports, American Airlines recently launched the first airport automatic wheelchair service in the United States. The airline has partnered with Whill, a smart electric scooter brand, to launch autonomous wheelchairs that can transport passengers without the assistance of airport staff.
New technologies help solve the problem of airport staff shortages (especially during peak flight periods), which has a certain negative impact on the travel experience of passengers with limited mobility.
American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air has partnered with Whill to introduce 10 wheelchairs at Los Angeles International Airport and Miami International Airport. They plan to add more wheelchairs in Miami and other major airport hubs in the United States and Europe.
Whill has planned routes at Terminal D in Miami and Terminal 4 in Los Angeles to create "invisible track lines" from designated locations to each boarding gate. The equipment connected to each wheelchair will navigate the best route along these lines to get passengers to where they need to go.
After passing security, passengers will be assisted by airport staff to the waiting area. They will sit in wheelchairs before the flight takes off. Then, they will press a button on the touchscreen to select their gate, and the wheelchair will take them directly to the gate, with space for luggage on the back.
The wheelchair has cameras and sensors that measure the distance to objects using laser pulses. This prevents collisions while the wheelchair is moving, and it also prevents the wheelchair from driving on slippery floors. The wheelchair can also "ding" to alert people to give way, or take a detour if necessary.