COAST, in partnership with Pratt Miller Engineering (PME), Renu Robotics, and ARIBO, has announced its selection as the lead organization in the Airfield Autonomy Initiative (AAI)-Next, a program that seeks to transform airport operations and establish new industry standards.

AAI-Next is a collaborative program between the US Department of Defense (DoD), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), industry leaders, and academia aimed at advancing fully autonomous airport operations (A2O) solutions. The initiative focuses on developing and testing innovative technologies at both commercial and research airfields. Key objectives include creating a robust Command and Control (C2) system capable of managing mixed autonomous vehicle types performing diverse mission profiles simultaneously, as well as integrating an autonomy package to retrofit legacy vehicles for autonomous operation.

Through this FAA and DoD pilot, COAST will showcase advancements in airfield management by deploying a unified C2 system that coordinates multiple autonomous ground-based robots to perform distinct airfield functions safely and efficiently.

At the program’s core is COAST’s advanced C2 system, which coordinates a fleet of autonomous robotic vehicles to enhance airfield safety and efficiency. The system will manage the COAST Team’s three robots:
• COAST’s Autonomous Polaris ProXD – Conducts Foreign Object Debris (FOD) sweeping to ensure runway safety.
• PME’s FRP-L – Strengthens perimeter surveillance as an airfield security force multiplier.
• Renu Robotics’ Renubot – Performs autonomous vegetation management for optimal airfield visibility and safety.

The COAST C2 System facilitates real-time decision-making and seamless communication between the AVs and airfield operations, ensuring strong performance across various conditions. ARIBO will provide planning, integration, and deployment support for this project that is advancing national security and industry standards.

“As a company with a history of pioneering autonomous systems for airfield safety and efficiency, COAST is thrilled to have been selected by the FAA and DoD for this cutting-edge initiative,” said David M. Hickey, Chairman & CEO of COAST Autonomous. “We look forward to working with an amazing team to showcase COAST’s C2 System operating various autonomous machines to solve routine airfield use cases. More importantly, this project allows us to collaborate with the FAA and DoD to define industry guidelines and accelerate the deployment of autonomous services at airfields in the U.S. and abroad.”

“Pratt Miller is excited to leverage our proven Flexible Robotics Platform-Light (FRP-L), enhanced with a perimeter security perception package, to support critical process validation and drive industry advancement in the deployment of autonomous ground systems on active airport and airfields,” said Tom Waligora, Senior Chief Engineer of Robotics at Pratt Miller. “This opportunity represents a meaningful step forward in the integration of autonomous systems into complex, real-world environments.”