Baggage Handling SystemsAlan Jimenez12/8/14

What are baggage handling systems?

A baggage handling system is a type of conveyor system that has the main purpose of carrying the luggage of an airplane traveler to be loaded onto an airplane and then from the airplane back to the baggage claim area. [1]

Modern automated baggage handling technologies range from sorting, conveying, and tracking systems to explosives detection and early bag storage and retrieval. [2]

Current process• Check in – A barcode gets generated with all necessary

information regarding flight. Some airports include RFID tags.

• Scan/conveyor – the barcode is read with a 360 degree array of scanners and the luggage gets sent to the appropriate conveyor.

RFID vs Barcode• Some airports around the world are starting to use RFID

• Helps out with accuracy of sorting, tracking, and tracing luggage

• Barcodes are only about 85 to 90 % accurate [2]

• RFID becoming a growing trend

Current process• Screened for explosives

• A “pusher” either lets the luggage pass, or pushes it onto another conveyor.

• Luggage gets loaded into a passing destination-coded-vehicle (DCV) and then taken to proper terminal. [3]

• Bags can be tracked anywhere on the system.

Destination Coded Vehicles (DCVs)• DCVs travel up to 5 times faster than a conveyor – almost

20 mph [3][5]

• Rides on metal track, propelled by linear induction motors.

• Speedy, efficient, durable, precise and manageable. RF communication system.

Where used?

Who uses them?• Airport Logistic Systems Department

• Check-in counter person

• Travelers

When used?• All day long, every day

Costs?• The entire system starts from about $32 million +

Supporting Technology• Computer logistics controls

• Sensors

• Bag tracking

• Local controllers

• AS/RS system (sometimes)

• Human Machine Interaction

References1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baggage_handling_system

2. http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10384240/smart-baggage-handling-systems-improve-airport-baggage-operations

3. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/baggage-handling3.htm

4. http://visual.ly/how-does-baggage-handling-work

5. http://daifukuwebb.com/Products/Baggage-Handling-System/Destination-Coded-Vehicle

Rules and Limitations• Bags must be under a certain size (750 mm in width x 1000

mm in length x 650 mm in height

• Allowable baggage weight must not exceed maximum of 50 kg/piece.

• Conveyor speed 45 – 600 m/min

• Bags must be able to get to the baggage claim area before travelers arrive to pick up their luggage.

Vendors

Baggage Handling Control• Daifuku has a system application called WebbView that

supports high-volume baggage throughput, while assuring bag-tracking accuracy.

• Includes : Supervisory control, Equipment control, manual encoding, and user interface. Runs on Windows platform.

• Provides comprehensive, graphical reports.

Summary/application article• Check out the article on howstuffworks.com

• http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/baggage-handling3.htm

• Check out Daifuku’s website for more information. http://daifukuwebb.com/Products/Baggage-Handling-System/

Video• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu9K8qCk0cY