SELEX Elsag - Baggage Handling Systems

In the airport automation market SELEX Elsag, the new reality in Finmeccanica group which embodies the competences of SELEX Communications and SELEX Elsag offers a wide range of baggage handling solutions developed in different technologies, implementing the entire airport baggage sorting, tracking and monitoring process. Tilt -tray and cross belt sorters are the central element in a complete baggage handling systems portfolio that includes all the necessary equipment and solutions from check-in to baggage reclaim.

SELEX Elsag's offer is based on a comprehensive platform of products for the integrated management of both physical processes and information flows:

• Baggage check-in automation (check-in stations)
• Handling and management of arriving and departing baggage flows
• Baggage identification (bar code reading and RFId)
• Hold baggage screening (HBS)- baggage security control system
• Baggage handling system (BHS)- baggage routing for outbound flights
• Early baggage storing (EBS)- storage of baggage checked in early
• Baggage reclaim - re-consignment of bags to arriving passengers
• Track and trace (T&T)- cargo manifest reporting and production
• Transport flow control systems
• Supervision systems
• Flight schedule information systems
• Modelling and simulation systems

Multisorting baggage handling system (MBHS) and multisorting tilt tray system (MTTS) represent the two innovative solutions developed by SELEX Elsag for the baggage handling system market.

Multisorting baggage handling system

Within the BHS solutions, SELEX Elsag offers large airports and hubs an innovative top performing sorting system featuring a continuous train of carts bearing loading cells and running in a loop, 30° induction lines to load baggage automatically onto the transport system and unloading stations.

A series of technological innovations and improvements position the product as one of the most advanced and high-performance solutions in its category. The technological innovations and improvements include:

• The use of linear synchronous motors to move the train of carts
• An induction system that ensures a constant and adequate flow of power without requiring sliding contacts, onboard batteries or energy accumulation systems
• Wireless transfer of control and data signals
• The use of motor-rollers on cells, eliminating the need for belt transmission mechanisms
• A distributed control system
• Rails coated in stainless steel and high-strength wheels that significantly reduce friction
• Precise cell test and diagnostic functions

The design and construction features of the MBHS translate into:

• High throughput
• Very high reliability
• Very low power consumption
• Flexibility and ease of maintenance
• Low noise level
• Simple configuration and expansion

The MBHS can also dynamically adjust its speed and handling capacity according to changes in traffic during the day. Based on traffic fluctuations at leading airports, we have estimated that a speed reduction in time bands when there is less air traffic can save more than 30% in terms of power consumption, wear and maintenance costs compared with systems that operate at a constant speed.

The MBHS is based on cross-belt technology, which ensures optimum transport and handling for all articles thanks to the motorised belt that fits each cell and moves perpendicularly to the direction of the carts.

Multisorting tilt tray system

MTTS is the SELEX Elsag baggage sorting proposal based on the more conventional tilt-tray technology. The sorter platform is the same as the MBHS's so it includes most of the innovative technical features already present on the MBHS, such as the use of linear synchronous motors to move the train of carts, the induction system for transferring energy on board and a distributed control system that assures the capacity to adjust dynamically the sorter speed and handling capacity according to changes in traffic during the day.

Active sorting carousel for airports

The ASC is the cost-effective, low-capacity sorting system developed by SELEX Elsag. It consists of a flat carousel with pushing devices that sort items to their unloading chutes. The main technical features of the ASC are:

• Continuous conveying surface: suitable for any kind of baggage or parcels and prevents any jamming or damage
• New concept drive unit
• Variable speed: different running speeds can be selected
• Very high reliability: 100% redundancy of key components
• Easy maintainability: no elements requiring tensioning or lubrication

Radio frequency identification for automatic baggage tracking

The RFID-ABT is an innovative detection station that combines RFID and barcode technologies to deliver very high baggage identification rate and throughput.

The station consists of a tunnel wrapped around a belt conveyor. This circumscribes a space with a uniform and delimited electromagnetic field, so that the baggage RFID tag can be read in a targeted and effective way without read / write interference from neighbouring luggage labels.

The system is fitted with sensors to detect baggage presence and position, making it possible to track physical transit precisely along the conveyor; this information is correlated with data captured by antennas and used for detecting the correct sequence of luggage in transit on the conveyor, associating the exact information present on the RFID tag with each item and identifying abnormal situations such as no tag or multiple tags.

The use of RFID-ABT stations ensures that the entire flow of baggage is quickly and thoroughly checked, as well as allowing all handling and sorting operations, from check-in stations to baggage aircraft cargo decks to be managed automatically in such a way as to minimise manual baggage process costs.

Electromechanical handling products

The SELEX Elsag product catalogue also includes a broad range of handling products, including:

• Transport belt conveyors
• Queuing conveyors
• Merge conveyors
• Vertical and horizontal diverters
• Pushers
• Baggage carousels

Baggage flow management systems

SELEX Elsag designs and develops advanced software systems that can manage the entire baggage flow inside airports and interface with the information systems used by airlines and other airport operators. The systems include:

• Transport flow control systems
• Supervision systems
• Tracking and tracing systems
• Flight schedule information systems
• Modelling and simulation systems

Security for critical territorial communications

The SELEX Elsag product range also offers comprehensive, integrated solutions to secure critical territorial communications.

Risk analysis and identification of counter-measures, security governance, privacy services, assessment and audit, business continuity planning and disaster recovery and training are all provided as consulting services to implement a protection system with the capabilities to deal with any challenge. The security products include:

• Video surveillance with automatic real time scene analysis
• Identity / access control through ID card or biometric recognition
• Car license plate reading and recording