Why Are There Robots at the Airport?

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/BETH HOLLERICH

If you’re flying in or out of Pittsburgh International Airport anytime soon, you might notice some new staff members: a fleet of four-legged robots, which will be strolling through parts of the Airside Terminal. 

According to Blue Sky News, the quadrupeds will be supporting a range of terminal operations, from monitoring indoor air quality to detecting spills and full trash bins.

They’re part of Pittsburgh International Airport’s xBridge innovation program, which has worked with dozens of tech firms from start-ups to national companies. Powered by Skild AI’s adaptive autonomy software, the bots are being evaluated for their ability to navigate complex airport environments and assist airport operations. Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and AI-driven perception, the robot can roam autonomously, detect anomalies and provide real-time data to operations staff, officials say.

The robots were unveiled to members of the media as part of a demonstration at PIT on Sept. 29.

“Pittsburgh is a global leader in robotics and AI. Through xBridge, we’re creating a place where that innovation can move from the lab into the airport environment and ultimately help shape the future of the industry,” Deepak Nayyar, executive vice president and chief technology officer at PIT, says in a statement. “We’re looking at how the latest technology can work alongside our staff and airline partners to enhance efficiency, improve operations and provide an additional level of customer service.”

Up to four autonomous robots and two charging stations will be deployed across the Airside Terminal. Each will have a defined area and keep-out zones. Skild AI will conduct the installation, mapping, supervision and monitoring of the robots. They will also provide on-site training to PIT staff.

“As a Pittsburgh company, we’re proud to partner with xBridge to make Pittsburgh International a pioneer in airport robotics,” Sara Ahmadi, head of product at Skild AI, says in a statement. “We share the belief that robots will transform how public infrastructure operates, and we’re grateful for the confidence they’ve put in Skild and the energy they bring to making that happen.”

The project will progress through multiple phases, allowing PIT and Skild AI to evaluate the technology across a range of airport functions.

Skild AI was founded in 2023 in Pittsburgh by Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, both faculty members of Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute and School of Computer Science. Pathak — the Raj Reddy Associate Professor at CMU — serves as chief executive; Gupta serves as president.

The new technology will be deployed to assist the airport’s teams in the following areas: 

Environmental Monitoring

The initial use case will focus on mobile indoor air-quality monitoring. Equipped with environmental sensors, a robot will autonomously collect location-specific data, monitor established thresholds and alert airport personnel when readings fall outside defined parameters. By automating routine data collection, the technology could help teams identify potential issues quickly, officials say.

Terminal Operations Support

The second phase will explore applications designed to complement the work of custodial and terminal operations teams. Potential use cases include identifying full or nearly full trash bins so employees can prioritize service, detecting potential spills to accelerate response and reduce safety hazards and monitoring passenger congestion to give operations teams additional visibility into areas experiencing increased crowding.

Advanced Applications

The third phase will explore more advanced applications, including a potential partnership with BioFlyte, a former xBridge participant, to pair Skild AI’s quadruped platform with BioFlyte’s airborne biological threat detection technology. The combination could provide mobile biological monitoring beyond fixed sensor locations and give airport personnel another tool for identifying potential threats.

The project will also evaluate the potential for autonomous delivery, including food and beverages, to select locations within PIT’s airside terminal. If successful, autonomous delivery could also support employees by handling routine point-to-point transportation of items, allowing staff to remain focused on passengers and core operational responsibilities, according to Blue Sky News.

“Pittsburgh is known globally for its growing tech economy, and our new industry-leading terminal continues to reflect that innovation right at the airport,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato says in a statement. “The airport is an economic driver for the region and xBridge is another example of that success.”

Additional Technologies

The robots aren’t the only new tech coming to the airport. Officials also announced a separate xBridge project; Arrow Analytics, in partnership with Southwest Airlines, is testing its EZ-Board technology in an active terminal environment to explore how the system can improve the boarding process and give airline teams better real-time information on how full overhead bin space is on the flight before a passenger boards.

Airlines closely monitor boarding times, because even a few minutes can affect aircraft schedules across an entire network, officials say. When overhead space becomes constrained, airlines may ask passengers to gate-check carry-on bags. PIT, Southwest Airlines and Arrow Analytics are exploring whether new technology can provide an even more precise, real-time view of carry-on baggage during boarding.

Providing airline employees with better information about actual baggage volume and projected bin usage “could increase boarding speed, reduce uncertainty and support more consistent, data-driven decisions,” according to a press release.

PIT Is the Place

The Steel City has seen a transformation in recent decades, moving from a maker of metals to a hub for digital technologies.

The airport’s announcement comes on the heels of the Intelligent Robots & Systems (IROS) Conference 2026, an international event with more than 70 countries represented hosted in Pittsburgh Sept. 27-Oct. 1. Pittsburgh also hosted an AI Summit in Bakery Square — home to the city’s “AI Avenue” earlier in September, bringing together a meeting of the minds to tackle questions of AI ethics and usage.

“Pennsylvania has an incredible opportunity to lead in artificial intelligence, robotics and emerging technologies,” says state Rep. Valerie Gaydos, whose district includes the airport. “The xBridge program demonstrates how bringing innovators, industry partners and our airports together can turn promising ideas into real-world solutions.” 

She adds that it remains more important than ever to “remember that technology should work for us, not the other way around.”

“xBridge is showing exactly how AI and robotics can solve real-world problems, improve efficiency and help Pennsylvania lead in innovation while benefiting our businesses, workforce and communities,” she says.

Pittsburgh is also home to world-class technology accelerator programs at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. CMU’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship features Project Olympus, an incubator that supports CMU entrepreneurs from concept development to business creation. To date, Project Olympus has facilitated the formation of 324 companies from various startup projects.

Journey Robotics was recently awarded a $100,000 investment and mentorship from CMU’s new Tartan Entrepreneurs fund and was part of the 2024 cohort of the Robotics Factory accelerator program.

Meanwhile, Pitt’s Innovation Institute serves as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, providing support for technology commercialization and startup funding. The program has successfully launched over 100 startup companies.