Winnipeg airport to test robot snowplow

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This article was published 03/10/2018 (2587 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It won’t be R2-D2, Optimus Prime, the Terminator — or even Rosie the maid — but Winnipeg’s airport will soon be the first in North America to have a robot plowing paths for planes.

The Winnipeg Airports Authority announced Wednesday it has joined forces with Manitoba companies Airport Technologies Inc. and Northstar Robotics Inc. to create the first autonomous snow-clearing machine at an airport in North America.

“When you think of it, where better than Manitoba?” Barry Rempel, WAA president and chief administrative officer, joked during the announcement. “I am really thrilled about this… our mission at this airport is to lead transportation innovation and growth.”

The snowplow, manufactured by Portage la Prairie-based Airport Technologies — which also built the rest of the airport’s fleet of plows — will be outfitted with technology created by Headingley-based Northstar Robotics.

Rempel said the goal will be to have the system operational for testing and demonstration by spring 2019.

Shawn Schaerer, president and founder of Northstar, said the technology has been used in recent years by tractors in farm fields.

“We want to put Winnipeg and Manitoba on the map to fully do autonomous snow clearing at the Winnipeg airport,” he said, noting the system will work by using GPS mapping connected to pre-created routes on a computer.

Brendon Smith, president of ATI, said the company is honoured to be part of the creation of a new technology on its snow-clearing machines. “We can’t think of a better way to tackle the next step of our industry.”

Vince Dancho, WAA vice-president of operations, said no jobs will be lost with the new technology, which will first be used to clear secondary areas used for taxiing and tarmac aprons. The WAA operates, manages and maintains Richardson International Airport.

“We will need people to oversee the operation and check the clearing afterwards,” Dancho said. “It will allow us to clear the snow more quickly and more efficiently.”

The snowplow costs about $450,000 before the technology, estimated to cost between $30,000 to $40,000 is added.

Rempel said up until a few days ago, officials thought the Winnipeg airport would be the first in the world to test drive a snowplow without a human operator. However, they learned a facility in Norway will be trying out a similar technology in recent days.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca