IoT Based Smart Trolley At Airport

Abstract

Airport baggage handling is a critical operational component of modern aviation infrastructure. Traditional baggage transport systems are susceptible to inefficiencies, human error, and high operational costs. This paper presents the design and implementation of an Arduino-based autonomous smart airport baggage carrier trolley that leverages Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Internet of Things (IoT), and multi-sensor integration to automate baggage transportation within airport environments. The proposed system employs an Arduino UNO microcontroller as the central processing unit, interfaced with an RFID RC522 module for passenger identification and baggage authentication, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor for real-time obstacle detection and avoidance, an L293D motor driver for precise DC motor control, an ESP32 CAM module for QR code scanning, and an ESP8266 (NodeMCU) Wi-Fi module for IoT-enabled remote monitoring via the Blynk platform. A scaled-down prototype was fabricated and tested, demonstrating autonomous navigation, RFID-based access control, obstacle avoidance, and wireless status reporting. Results confirm the system's capability to significantly reduce manual baggage handling effort, minimize mishandling incidents, improve airport ground logistics efficiency, and support sustainable electric-powered operations. The architecture is designed for scalability, making it suitable for deployment in large international airports. This work contributes to the advancement of smart airport automation and provides a cost-effective, open-source foundation for future IoT-integrated baggage management systems.