Tomsk-Made Autonomous Tow Tractors Headed for St. Petersburg Airport
The vehicles will be equipped with swarm AI technology.
The Tomsk Industrial Cluster of Electronics and Unmanned Technologies is moving toward large-scale deployment of its artificial intelligence-based technologies. The transition follows changes to federal legislation that extended the duration of experimental legal frameworks for testing emerging technologies.
Among the first projects, Cognitive Pilot will supply 45 autonomous baggage tow tractors to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. The vehicles are equipped with proprietary swarm AI technology and do not require dedicated navigation infrastructure. Instead, they rely on computer vision to navigate. They can also exchange data with one another, allowing them to move more efficiently alongside other airport ground vehicles.
The tow tractors are currently undergoing closed testing. The deployment will be Russia's first airport project to use autonomous tow tractors powered by swarm AI. Delivery of all 45 vehicles is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
