Design and Development of a Chassis Concept for an Autonomous Airport Shuttle

Abstract: In this project, a chassis concept has been developed for a battery-powered autonomousvehicle. The vehicle is intended to be used at an airport for transporting people betweendifferent terminals. The objective is to develop a chassis which is anchored with modernrequirements and futuristic research based on conventional chassis design methods in orderto find an optimal solution for this specific vehicle. Literature studies have been conductedon future batteries, types of chassis, chassis materials, and optimal cross-sections. Thechassis materials have also been analyzed from an environmental perspective and life cycleanalysis (LCA). Based on this, it was found that the “skateboard” chassis model was optimalfor the intended vehicle while Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) proved to be the mostsuitable material for the load-bearing structure. It is essential to keep in mind that thisproject has been carried out on a conceptual level within the framework of a degree project.This master thesis project aims to provide a solid benchmark for further development andresearch within the subject.