Grant Awarded for Autonomous Airfield Technology | Aviation International News

Grant Awarded for Autonomous Airfield Technology

The National Aerospace Research & Technology Park at New Jersey's Atlantic City International Airport has received a grant to futher autonomous equipment.

Autonomous tractors performing mowing and runway debris sweeps. — Two autonomous tractors traverse the flight line on Scott Air Force Base in Illinois last year during an operational demonstration. A recent research grant to the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park aspires to bring such technology to airports across the country. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Solomon Cook/USAF)

By Curt Epstein • Business Aviation Services Editor

February 6, 2023

The National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP) has received a $2.25 million Congressional grant to advance the development and testing of autonomous devices that can perform routine labor-intensive activities such as lawn mowing and foreign object debris sweeps on military and civil airfields.

NARTP—which occupies a 58-acre campus adjoining New Jersey’s Atlantic City International Airport (KACY) and the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center—will work on the Airfield Autonomy Initiative (AAI) together with the U.S. Air Force, FAA, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Atlantic County Economic Alliance and others to create the first-ever, airfield-specific autonomous command and control (C2) systems.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Become a Member

Already a member? Sign In

ACSF Data Shows Stable Bizav Risk Amid 2026 Pressures

Altitude and course deviation, traffic proximity remain top categories

ACSF Graphic

Faulty Comms Preceded Marine One/Envoy Close Call

Aircraft remained within separation guidance but neared each other after the presidential helicopter was unable to alert ATC

The White House

NTSB Vice Chair Michael Graham To Retire October 2

Graham leaving agency within months of confirmation to another term

NTSB member Michael Graham

AINsight: Go-arounds Are a Normal and Expected Outcome

UK CAA concerned over rise in unstable approaches continuing to land

business jet from rear

TSB: Rotorcraft More Prone To Loss-of-visual-reference Accidents

Helicopters more than twice as vulnerable to loss of visual reference accidents than airplanes

Photos of a accident site in Nunavut in 2021, taken hours apart, showing the snow-covered, featureless terrain; an overcast sky; and flat white conditions.

EASA: Atmospheric Icing Insufficiently Understood

European air safety agency calls for more comprehensive studies into phenomenon

Article preview image

Embry-Riddle Introduces ‘Safer Skies’ Video Podcasts

First episode features three-time space shuttle veteranJanet Kavandi

Article preview image

Li-ion Thermal Runaways on the Rise in Aircraft Cabins

Numbers are rising and the risk of a serious incident is increasing

Fire containment bag