Hamburg Airport began a four-month pilot on 3 June 2025 with autonomous security robots from Swiss firm Ascento to patrol the outer fence and detect damage or possible intrusions. The robots complement, rather than replace, airport security staff and are being tested for perimeter protection, airside intrusion prevention and better use of human resources.
The units patrol autonomously along the fence line, using cameras, sensors and obstacle-avoidance capabilities to report holes, breaches and other anomalies to the security control room. They can operate at night and in varying weather conditions, sending live images and alerts in real time.
The trial reflects Hamburg Airport’s wider use of digital and AI-based operations tools, while also addressing security staffing constraints and the need for continuous monitoring across long perimeter sections. The airport will evaluate the robots’ reliability, detection quality and operational value before deciding whether to extend the deployment.