WHILL has launched an autonomous mobility service at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3, extending its airport deployment model to one of Europe’s largest hubs. The system is designed to let passengers with reduced mobility travel independently from dedicated stations to their departure gates and then return the vehicle automatically for recharging.
The Heathrow trial follows earlier airport deployments at Haneda, Dallas Fort Worth, Schiphol and Abu Dhabi, where WHILL has positioned its self-driving wheelchairs as part of a shared mobility service. The company’s airport product uses onboard sensors, lidar and cameras, with automatic stopping capability when obstacles are detected.
The initiative reflects two operational priorities for airports: improving accessibility for passengers who need assistance, and reducing staff pressure by automating standard point-to-point transfers. WHILL has also framed the service as part of a broader mobility-as-a-service strategy for terminals and other large indoor environments.