CAM Pathfinder-funded feasibility study to model how a single control centre could manage a mixed fleet of SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles at UK airports, replacing today’s patchwork of manually driven cars, minibuses and buses. UK airports are invited to participate. Bristol, UK, 09.04.26: Fusion Processing, the UK-based developer of SAE Level 4 Automated Drive Systems, has been awarded funding through the Government-backed CAM Pathfinder programme to investigate how autonomous vehicle technology proven on public roads can be adapted to transform airside staff transport at UK airports.

The company is leading the CAM Pathfinder Airside Staff Transport Concept Feasibility Study, that will evaluate the operational, economic and safety case for deploying fully autonomous, No-User-In-Charge (NUIC) vehicles within the airside environments of UK airports. A number of international UK airports will be studied as part of the programme, with a further invitation open to additional airports wishing to participate and shape the direction of the study.

Fusion Processing’s involvement in the feasibility study is grounded in years of operational experience running autonomous buses on public roads. The company’s CAVstar® SAE Level 4 Automated Drive System is currently deployed on the Connector project in Cambridge, one of the UK’s most advanced real-world AV deployments, where it has accumulated substantial learning on urban routing, fleet management, passenger safety and remote oversight in a structured transport environment.

Jim Hutchinson, CEO, Fusion Processing said: “Airports represent a substantial and largely untapped new market for autonomous vehicle technology. Our years of operational experience running CAVstar on public roads give us a genuinely differentiated starting point for this study. We understand how to design, operate and optimise an AV fleet in a structured, safety-critical environment, and we are now applying that knowledge directly to the airport context.

“Airports today operate a mixed fleet of vehicles that were never designed to work together as a system. Our vision is to replace that with a single, integrated service run from one control centre, scaled to the specific needs of each airport. We are actively inviting UK airports to engage with this study and help shape what that future looks like.”

 

That operational knowledge now underpins Fusion Processing’s approach to airside transport, where the challenges share much in common with complex environments: defined routes, controlled access, mixed traffic and a clear requirement for zero-incident safety performance. The feasibility study will apply and adapt those lessons to the specific constraints and regulatory requirements of the airside environment, including engagement with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the legislative framework governing autonomous vehicle operations within airport boundaries.

Initial research carried out by Fusion Processing has found that airports typically rely on a mixed and fragmented fleet of vehicles to move staff around the airside environment: a combination of small cars for individual transfers, minibuses for crew movements, and larger buses for mass passenger operations. Each vehicle category operates independently, often with its own dispatcher, scheduling system and driver pool, creating significant operational complexity and cost.

The feasibility study will take that mixed-fleet reality as its starting point, building detailed economic models for exactly this type of varied vehicle requirement. Rather than proposing a one-size-fits-all solution, the study will assess how a fleet comprising vehicles of different sizes and capacities can be brought together under a single operational model, with autonomous driving technology providing the common thread.

One control centre, every vehicle.

Central to Fusion Processing’s vision is a single Remote Operations Control Centre (ROCC) from which operators can oversee the entire airside vehicle fleet, regardless of vehicle size or type.

Drawing directly on the remote monitoring architecture, the ROCC would provide fleet optimisation to maximise vehicle availability, a dial-a-ride style booking and despatch service for airside staff movements, and automated charging cycle management to keep vehicles available on demand.

Remote Drive Stations within the ROCC would allow operators to monitor up to four vehicles simultaneously and, where required, assume full manual remote control of any vehicle in the fleet. This approach preserves the economic benefits of removing drivers from vehicles while maintaining the oversight and intervention capability that safety-critical airport operations demand.

The proposed mixed fleet for the study spans three vehicle types reflecting the range found at airports today: a four-seat vehicle for compact, agile transfers; a 12-seat minibus from a global OEM for mid-capacity movements; and a 25-seat bus for high-volume staff transport. Vehicle leasing and financing options are also being included in the study, giving the programme a commercially structured model to test alongside the technical deployment.

The commercial case for change

The transition to autonomous airside staff transport is expected to deliver meaningful commercial benefits for airport operators. By reducing the requirement for drivers and improving energy efficiency as well as reducing tyre and brake wear, overall operating costs could be up to 40% lower than equivalent manually driven vehicle operations. Increased vehicle utilisation and minimised downtime also point to a reduced fleet size requirement, further improving the economic argument.

From a safety perspective, the case for autonomy is equally compelling. Human error is attributed to approximately 90% of all road traffic accidents worldwide, and the elimination of that variable from a controlled airside environment represents a significant safety gain for airport operators and their staff.

The CAM Pathfinder programme – announced in the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan – aims to grow the UK’s £3.7 billion Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) industry and is being delivered by the Department for Business and Trade, in collaboration with Innovate UK and Zenzic.

 

Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “CAM solutions have the potential to unlock new business opportunities and economic growth in all corners of the country. These feasibility studies will help to articulate the impact that market ready CAM technologies can have on both business productivity and economic growth.

“We are excited to start working with the organisations delivering each of the eight projects to further develop their businesses cases, demonstrate the commerciality of their solutions and paint a clearer picture of the commercially viable CAM solutions coming down the road.”

Claire Spooner, Director of Innovation Service at Innovate UK said: “This latest tranche of funding from the CAM Pathfinder programme will enable the UK to unlock the huge future benefits of these new CAM technologies. These projects, around the UK, will develop new solutions for a range of CAM applications and scenarios and they will enable the companies behind these innovations to scale and grow”.

 

ENDS

About Fusion Processing

Fusion Processing is a UK developer of SAE Level 4 Automated Drive Systems for real-world commercial deployment. Its flagship product, CAVstar®, provides the autonomous driving intelligence for structured transport environments and is currently operational on routes in Cambridge. The company also develops Remote Drive Pod technology to support remote monitoring and control of autonomous vehicle fleets.

About CAM Pathfinder

CAM Pathfinder is a £150 million UK Government programme delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in collaboration with Innovate UK and Zenzic. It aims to grow the UK’s £3.7 billion Connected and Automated Mobility industry by supporting the development and commercialisation of CAM solutions across sectors and environments.

About Zenzic

Zenzic was established by UK Government and industry to provide a trusted focal point for the UK Connected and Automated Mobility ecosystem. As a collaborative organisation, Zenzic helps create alignment, build shared understanding, and ensure progress in CAM contributes to national priorities. For more information, visit zenzic.io.

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. Its mission is to help companies grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.