With the rapid growth of aviation and the increasing reliance on aircraft as a primary mode of transportation, aircraft have grown larger, and airports have become more complex. As a result, the traditional system of baggage drop-off and collection became inadequate, necessitating the development of a new, more efficient baggage handling system.
How Baggage Handling Systems Work
The foundational principles of modern baggage handling systems were established to address these challenges. Passengers hand over their luggage at check-in counters, where it is then placed on a conveyor belt. The luggage is transported to a designated area, where specialized airport staff load it onto wagons, also known as baggage dollies, for efficient transfer.
When the aircraft arrives, the luggage is unloaded and transferred back to wagons, which are then driven to a collection point near the terminal building. The luggage is placed on a conveyor belt—or directly onto a carousel belt—and transported into the terminal. Finally, the luggage is delivered to a carousel belt, where passengers can retrieve it.
Early Technology in Baggage Handling Systems
Early baggage handling systems were relatively simple, borrowing technology from open mining systems. They primarily consisted of straight conveyor belts. However, as air travel demand grew, these systems evolved to include more advanced features, such as round conveyor belts, sorting lanes, sorting facilities, and baggage storage areas, to manage the increasing volume of luggage.
The Automation of Baggage Handling Systems
A significant milestone occurred in 1971 when BNP Associates developed the first automated baggage handling system. This technology laid the groundwork for the systems used in major airports worldwide today. Automation introduced a central control system powered by specialized software, enabling seamless operation of the entire baggage handling process. Modern advancements even include mobile baggage handling software, allowing system managers to monitor and resolve issues remotely via their smartphones.
Technologies Used in Modern Baggage Handling Systems
Modern baggage handling systems can be broadly categorized into three main technologies:
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Conveyor Technology: This involves the low- to medium-speed transportation of loose luggage on conveyor belts. It forms the backbone of most baggage handling systems, with a vast network of interconnected belts and junctions controlled by computers to ensure luggage reaches its correct destination.
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Tilt-Tray Loop Technology: A high-speed sorting system designed to handle luggage of various shapes and sizes. Each item is placed on an individual tray, which is tracked and sorted as it moves through the system.
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Individual Carrier System (ICS) Technology: In this system, each piece of luggage is placed inside a cart, tote, or tray and remains securely attached to its carrier throughout the process. This allows for 100% tracking and tracing of the item at all times.
Conveyor Technology in Detail
The conveyor-based baggage handling system relies on an extensive network of hundreds of interconnected conveyor belts and junctions. Computers control these junctions to direct luggage to the correct destination. At each junction, a machine called a pusher either allows the luggage to continue on its current path or redirects it onto another conveyor belt. This automated process ensures that every bag reaches its intended location efficiently and accurately.
Despite its humble beginnings, the baggage handling system has evolved over time to be very sophisticated, fully-automated systems. They can now involve kilometre-long networks controlled by smart algorithms and software especially designed to move large volumes of baggage to their proper destinations.
Post time: Feb-21-2025