# Autonomous Airport Navigation WHILL's Autonomous Drive System Will Be Added to Haneda Airport By Daniel Johnson | Published 2020-06-09 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-drive-system References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/08/tokyos-haneda-airport-adopts-whills-autonomous-mobility-devices-to-help-practice-social-distancing/) & [whill.us](https://whill.us/) Haneda Airport, located in Tokyo, will begin to use the [WHILL](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scootaround-app) Autonomous Drive System in order to help [passengers with reduced mobility](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/assistive-mobility-technologies) travel around the airport. However, the Autonomous Drive System will only be operating in four of the seven total gates at Haneda Airport. WHILL indicates that COVID-19 has expediated the use of technology because it eliminates the need for a person to person contact. To date, the company has conducted 11 different trials with over 400 hundred participants. The WHILL CEO, Satoshi Sugie, spoke about the technology's role in a post-COVID-19 world, “In the With Corona era, we believe services that support mobility while maintaining social distancing will accelerate to replace human labor with robots and autonomous driving technologies.” Image Credit: WHILL ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Autonomous Drive Systems:** The use of autonomous drive systems in airports presents an opportunity for increased efficiency and reduced person-to-person contact, especially in a post-COVID-19 world. - **Accessible Airports:** The implementation of technology like the WHILL Autonomous Drive System in airports can improve the accessibility and mobility of passengers with reduced mobility. - **Technology Acceleration in Airports:** The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in airports, leading to the integration of autonomous drive systems for improved services and reduced contact. ### Who This Affects Most - **Airport Transportation:** The airport transportation industry can benefit from integrating autonomous drive systems to enhance passenger mobility and convenience. - **Mobility Services:** The mobility services industry can explore opportunities to provide autonomous drive systems as a solution for improving accessibility and transportation for individuals with reduced mobility. - **Robotic Technologies:** The integration of autonomous drive systems in airports represents an innovative application of robotic technologies, leading to increased efficiency and automation in the industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Accessible Airport Aids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-airport-vehicle.md) - [AV-Operated Airport Rides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotaxi.md) - [Ground Traffic Control Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ground-traffic-control-platform.md) - [Airport-Specific Autonomous Shuttle Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-shuttle-service.md) - [Airport Mobility Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobility-hubs.md) - [Urban Mobility Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uni-one.md) - [Accessibility-Focused Self-Driving Technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfdriving-technology1.md) - [Autonomous Work Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-work-vehicle.md) - [VR Electric Mobility Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobility-wheelchair.md)