Changi Airport rolls out autonomous wheelchairs for transit passengers in Terminals 2 and 3
Airlines in Changi Airport handle about 2,300 wheelchair assistance requests each day, with four in five coming from transfer passengers.
Singapore's Changi Airport has introduced autonomous wheelchairs in Terminal 2 and 3 to assist passengers with reduced mobility. The service, a collaboration between the airport and ground handling partner SATS, aims to reduce the need for one-to-one staff assistance. Nine wheelchairs are currently operating in each terminal's transit area, with the potential for expansion to 18 in the future.
These autonomous wheelchairs cannot travel between terminals and are reserved for passengers with layovers exceeding 90 minutes who can still navigate short distances. They can carry up to 136kg and travel at a maximum speed of 3.5km/h, ensuring safety with features like seatbelt monitoring and an emergency stop button. The wheelchairs move along predefined routes, monitored by a SATS supervisor, and are equipped with sensors to detect obstacles and pedestrian traffic.
While initially available only to transit passengers on airlines served by SATS, the service may expand as the demand for special assistance services grows due to Singapore's aging population and increasing air travel. The rollout follows successful trials involving over 13,000 passengers, who tested the wheelchairs' performance and navigation capabilities in a controlled environment.
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