You’ve undoubtedly seen those boxy, golf-cart-like vehicles that airports use to shuttle disabled passengers to the gate. Called Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) vehicles, they’ve got the all the aesthetic value of a Willys Jeep.
Incheon International Airport, near Seoul, wanted better. They commissioned local company ThorDrive, an autonomous driving startup, to create a more elegant PRM. ThorDrive then worked with South Korean industrial design firm Intenxiv to produce this Air Ride, a fully autonomous vehicle.
“From the information desk to the boarding gate, people with disabilities can get on and off autonomously. Luggage loading and unloading areas are located close to the front and back to minimize the difficulty for passengers. And an unmanned kiosk provides easy access to boarding gate information. The rounded shape reduces the risk of injury in the event of a collision.”
Incheon International Airport now runs an Air Ride unit in every building.