the chairs drive themselves

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has introduced three self-driving wheelchairs that carry passengers from the security checkpoint to their gate without anyone pushing them. Alaska Airlines partnered with Alaska-based NANA Management Services to launch the program, which uses cameras mounted under the seat to read the terminal and follow a preloaded map of the airport.

Passengers can request a ride for free when they book their flight online or by asking at an Alaska Airlines ticket counter. Once through security, staff help travelers into the chair and select their destination on a touchscreen kiosk, then the wheelchair navigates to the gate on its own.

The wheelchairs' sensors detect obstacles and crowds in real time, slowing the chair down and triggering automatic braking if someone steps into its path.

The program is meant to free up airport staff so they can focus on travelers who need more direct, hands-on assistance. The fleet is small for now, but it reflects how Anchorage's airport is approaching accessibility and technology inside the terminal.