Baggage truck: Functional design of the Swap Body mechanicals (summary)

Delft University of Technology

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering Transport Technology

F.M. van den Bosch Baggage truck: Functional design of the Swap Body mechanicals. Engineering Assignment, Report 2005.TL.6967, Transport Engineering and Logistics.

Until today, no good solution for the handling of baggage of narrow body airplanes exists. A train of baggage carts transfers the baggage between the plane and the terminal and baggage is loaded by hand. This is a very labour-intensive method, with bad ergonomically working conditions that causes a considerable leak in the security of airports and airplanes. Also, this process is time critical considering turn-around time and transfer flights. But, the Transport and Logistics department at the Delft University of Technology developed the Baggage Truck and this can be considered as a major improvement in baggage handling.

The Baggage Truck mainly consists of a baggage handling system inside a swap body and an adapted vehicle for transport between the terminal and the plane. To further develop the Baggage Truck and prepare the system for the market cooperation is started between TUDelft, Terberg bv, manufacturer of special vehicles, and VanderLande Industries bv, specialist in baggage handling.

Research showed that with the use of the Baggage Truck, major improvements of the current baggage handling process can be achieved: fewer personnel necessary within the baggage handling process, most parts can be automated.

much better ergonomically working conditions.

increased security of airports and airplanes, because most human operations are automated. reduction of possible turn-around time and faster handling of transfer baggage.

better possibilities for tracking & tracing.

Because of these advantages a functional design of the Swap Body mechanicals has been made, it is shown in the next pictures.

This functional design has the following advantages:

It allows for all needed operations and is in agreement with the User Requirements Specifications.

Baggage is always contained in a closed space when in the Swap Body. It is completely protected against unwanted human contact, damage by moving parts and weather influences. There is no need to put the baggage in tubs.

Is easy to maintain by shifting a lane into maintenance position on-site, giving a low Mean Time To Repair.

Is very reliable because most parts are proven components, giving a high Mean Time Between Failure.

Easy access to all components of the Swap Body leads to easy maintenance and replacements, giving a low Mean Time To Repair.

The process within the Swap Body is much quicker (7 seconds) than the loading of a lane, allowing further improvements of the baggage handling process.

The movement of the lanes in the swap Body can be reversed, so a lane can be brought into position by following the shortest route.

Tracking & Tracing, very important for efficient baggage handling, improves drastically when baggage is scanned before it enters the Baggage Truck. The location (the Baggage Truck, the Swap Body and even the position on the lane) of the baggage will always be known, a major advantage compared to the current situation.

The most important recommendations for further development are: Make a virtual simulation to get the interest of investors.

A prototype should be built to demonstrate the truck to possible clients and test the Swap Body.

Although the Baggage Truck will be expensive, large cost savings are possible, calculations should be done to determine the cost savings. A study should be done if advantage is possible for low cost airliners.

Determine the effect on the 70 MB program of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with the employment of the Baggage Truck.

For the success of the Baggage Truck on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and other airports, it is very important to find out what the demands and wishes of those airports are.

Tests should be done as soon as possible to determine the behaviour of baggage on a stationary belt under truck driving conditions. Reports on Transport Engineering and Logistics (in Dutch)