Wayne County Airport Authority partners with Unifi to bring autonomous wheelchairs to DTW
DETROIT (April 14, 2025) – The Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) is pleased to partner with Unifi to introduce WHILL autonomous wheelchairs in the Edward H. McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
This innovative service is a pilot program that offers another accessibility option for customers who experience difficulty walking long distances or navigating the airport.
WHILL autonomous devices are assigned to transport passengers on-site, providing a convenient solution to help them move through the airport. Once a passenger reaches their destination, the chair autonomously returns to its base, allowing for use by other travelers.
"The introduction of WHILL autonomous wheelchairs is a major step forward in improving accessibility at DTW,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Chad Newton. “This collaboration with Unifi allows us to offer a cutting-edge, efficient service for customers, ensuring a smoother and more inclusive airport experience.”
While WHILL devices provide autonomous travel, passengers will continue to interact with the Unifi team at the beginning of their journey. The Unifi team will escort passengers through security and to the WHILL devices near DTW’s iconic Water Feature. Passengers will then learn how to safely operate the wheelchairs before heading to their destination.
“We are continuously exploring new innovations to enhance the customer experience,” said Unifi Chief Executive Officer Gautam Thakkar. “This pilot marks a significant step in exploring how smart technology can help us meet a range of mobility needs, allowing our teams to focus on travelers requiring more hands-on care, while offering greater independence and convenience for our other guests.”
WHILL devices are equipped with intuitive, simple controls that can be paused at any time by the passenger. The autonomous chairs also feature several key safeguards, including:
Collision Avoidance: Sensors to detect obstacles and engage automatic brakes.
Path Mapping: Pre-mapped routes to ensure safe, efficient navigation.
Redundancy & Monitoring: Backup systems and remote supervision ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations.
Emergency Stop: Each device is equipped with an emergency stop button for added safety.
Maps and routes will be regularly updated to ensure the most efficient and effective paths for passengers.
Traditional wheelchair service will still be available with Unifi.
More than 100 WHILL devices are currently deployed across various airports and have completed more than 400,000 autonomous rides to date.
This pilot program is partially supported by a grant from the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), as part of the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP).
"Innovation in mobility is about more than just advancing technology, it’s about making travel more efficient, accessible and inclusive,” said Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan at the MEDC Justice Johnson. “By harnessing new tools and ideas, we can create systems that improve the movement of people, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, has equal access to safe, affordable, and convenient transportation options."
Later this year, autonomous wheelchairs will also be deployed at the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal, in partnership with Unifi.
For additional information, members of the media may contact: media@wcaa.us or Media Line (734) 247-7379
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomed 33 million passengers in 2024. As one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs, DTW offers service from 18 scheduled passenger airlines. Michigan’s largest airport offers approximately 800 flights per day to and from more than 125 nonstop destinations on three continents. With two award-winning passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin Hotel, DTW is among the world’s most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport earned Airports Council International’s 2020 and 2022 Airport Service Quality Award for Best Airport by Size and Region (25 to 40 million passengers per year in North America). DTW has also garnered three prestigious awards for customer satisfaction since 2010. DTW is operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport – an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations. Visit www.metroairport.com for more information.