Advanced Control and Monitoring Systems for Autonomous Snow Removal Equipment at Airports

Airports in Canada have the difficult tasks of needing to remain open during adverse weather conditions in the winter. The research that we are undertaking is to develop and deploy a fully autonomous snow removal equipment for Canadian airports. Operating a snowplow is a dangerous and exhausting task for human operators, often they are unable to see clearly when they are operating in extreme conditions. Airports are also finding it increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain seasonal workers. A potential solution for these issues is a fully autonomous snow removal system. Development of cost effective and reliable autonomous snow removal vehicles would aid airports in keeping their runways operational during winter storms and help to overcome labor shortages while improving productivity and safety.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nariman Sepehri

Student:

Zhengrong Chu

Partner:

Northstar Robotics Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Automotive and transportation

University:

Program: