Pulkovo Airport began using unmanned vehicles to transport luggage. VIDEO

On October 9, 2025, Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg announced the start of operation of specialized unmanned vehicles intended for baggage transportation. The project is part of a strategic program to implement automated equipment.

The self-driving car, developed by specialists of the Russian company Cognitive Pilot, is a luggage tractor on a four-wheeled chassis. It can transport several carts with a cargo with a total weight of up to three tons. The machine is endowed with various sensors to control the surrounding space and artificial intelligence, which allows you to recognize markings, adapt to the actions of employees and safely bypass obstacles.

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Фото: Pulkovo Airport

It is assumed that the tractor will transport carts with cargo from the luggage belt to the aircraft parking lot and back without the participation of the operator. The use of such self-driving machines is expected to speed up baggage handling in the air harbor by 23%. In the future, similar machines can be used to mow grass on the airfield and clear the airport of snow. The speed of the robots will be no more than 15 km/h.

This project is part of the airport's long-term strategy to digitally transform and automate key processes. Further, automated buses and special equipment will be tested, the Pulkovo airport said in a statement.

Cognitive Pilot develops solutions for agricultural machinery, rail and road transport, as well as other unmanned platforms. The company's central office is located in Moscow, while projects are implemented in Russia, European countries, the USA, Asia and Latin America.^[1]

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