Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is testing a new autonomous system designed to automate one of the most physically demanding and time-critical ground-handling tasks: connecting aircraft to ground power units (GPUs).
The technology, known as ARC (Autonomous Robot for GPU Connection), has been developed in collaboration with KLM and Neura Robotics and was recently demonstrated live at the airport.
The project aims to address growing operational pressures at airports, where staff shortages and physically intensive work have made GPU connection a persistent bottleneck.
Schiphol notes that delays in connecting aircraft to ground power can force aircraft to run auxiliary power units longer than necessary, increasing fuel burn and emissions.
The airport describes ARC as part of its broader “seamless inbound flow” programme, which seeks to automate key elements of the docking process.
ARC uses a combination of lidar-based navigation, robotic manipulation and computer vision to perform the full GPU-connection workflow without human intervention.
Schiphol explains that the robot must “pick up and drag the heavy power cable”, navigate the busy apron, identify the correct access panel and operate it using a custom-designed tool described as a “pricker” with suction technology. Once the panel is open, ARC inserts the power cable into the aircraft socket.
The development team says one challenge involved ensuring the heavy cable did not interfere with the robot’s safety systems.
Engineers resolved this by mounting the cable from above, creating a parabola that keeps it outside ARC’s safety zone while allowing the robot to manoeuvre freely.
Neura Robotics, which specialises in cognitive robotics, supplied core technologies for the system. According to Schiphol, Neura’s approach “to use existing proven technology to quickly validate risky assumptions as well as work simultaneously across various domains like Ai, Navigation, software, mobility and engineering gave us the confidence to choose them as the preferred supplier for this proof of technology”.
A recent demonstration at Schiphol brought together airports, airlines, ground handlers and international partners. The airport says the response “was overwhelmingly positive”, strengthening the case for scaling up ARC and exploring wider deployment of autonomous ground-handling systems.
Schiphol is now inviting industry stakeholders to participate in the next stage of development. The airport says webinars will be held in December and January for those who were unable to attend the live demo, offering a deeper look at the technology and opportunities for collaboration.
