Source: Yeti Snow Technology
Picture of a Yeti in blue and the company name in orange letter
For air traffic to run smoothly in winter times, the runways must be totally free from snow. That can be quite challenging in Nordic winters! That’s why Avinor started in 2016 a pre-commercial procurement, looking for solutions that could optimise the snow-clearing operations at the airport with regard to cost-benefit, safety, environmental impact and efficiency. It was a first in this sector in Norway that a public customer in this sector was challenging the market to innovate.
Yeti Snow technology came up with a driverless snowplough that could do the job. The company was setup in the run up to the pre-commercial procurement in 2015 by Semcon, a developer of autonomous systems for vehicles, and Øveraasen Snow Removal Systems, a Norwegian family business that been developing and manufacturing traditional snow ploughs, snow blowers and runway sweepers for more than 80 years.
In March 2018, Avinor tested a full-scale prototype of the Yeti robotics vehicle and the technology that makes it self-propelled. In 2019, the final solution was tested at larger scale in Norwegian airports. It was the first project in the world where autonomous vehicles were handling the important task of keeping the runways free of snow. The Yeti snowploughs showed the potential for cost reduction and efficiency improvement: they had enough capacity to clear an area of 357,500m² within an hour. It delivers more efficient airport winter maintenance, lower cost for airport operators and reduced delays for passengers. The robotic vehicles can clear snow in formation, several vehicles working together, no matter the weather. The new solution also significantly reduces CO2, while meeting the high standards of safety, prevision and reliability that airports require.
‘When the solution was demonstrated, representatives from several large airports were present. Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Canada, Moscow, Arlanda and Gatwick. The interest showed a great potential for export and scaling of the solution that we developed in Norway. The importance of a public customer leading and challenging the market to innovate was an important driver. When we started with this in 2014, no one worked with autonomy here at Kongsberg in Norway. And thanks to this project, we became the pioneers in the field...’ says Bård Røsvik from Yeti Snow Technology.
The market potential of this innovative project, also attracted new investors. Today Yeti Snow Technology is owned by Øveraasen As, Semcon Devotek AS and Husqvarna Group, a global maker of grass-cutting equipment whose products include robotic lawmovers. They are all keen to expand Yeti’s driverless vehicle business.
Earlier this year, Øveraasen and Swedavia signed a framework agreement for the delivery of the next generation Yeti snow removal machines at Sweden's ten largest airports. The equipment supplied is of the Runway Sweeper type with plow, brush, blow and spray function used for snow removal of runways at airports. The machines will be equipped with the latest technology for advanced driver assistance and automated driving.
More info:
https://overaasen.no/877/autonome_snoryddingsmaskiner_inntar_svenske_flyplasser (Swedish)
http://innovativeanskaffelser.no/blogg/for-kommersiell-anskaffelse-gir-naeringsvekst/ (Norwegian)