The Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) has announced a partnership with technology firm Unifi to bring WHILL autonomous wheelchairs to the Edward H. McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
The pilot program — supported in part by a grant from the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), as part of the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) — will give passengers the ability to navigate DTW using WHILL’s collision avoidance, path-mapping, monitoring and emergency stop technology, with on-site support and guidance from the Unifi team. The airport also plans to install WHILL autonomous wheelchairs at the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal later this year.
“The introduction of WHILL autonomous wheelchairs is a major step forward in improving accessibility at DTW,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Chad Newton. “This collaboration with Unifi allows us to offer a cutting-edge, efficient service for customers, ensuring a smoother and more inclusive airport experience.”
“We are continuously exploring new innovations to enhance the customer experience,” added Unifi CEO Gautam Thakkar. “This pilot marks a significant step in exploring how smart technology can help us meet a range of mobility needs, allowing our teams to focus on travelers requiring more hands-on care, while offering greater independence and convenience for our other guests.”
“Innovation in mobility is about more than just advancing technology, it’s about making travel more efficient, accessible and inclusive,” said chief mobility officer for the State of Michigan at the MEDC Justice Johnson. “By harnessing new tools and ideas, we can create systems that improve the movement of people, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, has equal access to safe, affordable, and convenient transportation options.”
