Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) just unveiled a more data-driven, high-tech travel experience at its new $1.7 billion terminal — and it starts the minute travelers book their flight. 

“We work like a startup environment.”

Pittsburgh International Airport CIO Deepak Nayyar

Think autonomous robot dogs patrolling for security threats, digital maps guiding travelers to their boarding gates and sensors predicting how long you’ll have to wait in line at Starbucks. That’s just some of the innovations featured or coming soon to the new terminal, which officially opened over the weekend with Gov. Josh Shapiro and other commonwealth officials in attendance to celebrate the major milestone for Pittsburgh.

Many of the technology upgrades stem from xBridge, an Allegheny County Airport Authority program that partners with early-stage startups to develop and test new tech, according to PIT’s CIO Deepak Nayyar. 

“Pittsburgh doesn’t want to be just an airport for flying planes,” Nayyar told Technical.ly. “We also want to play a role in building the aviation industry of the future.” 

A new, tech-fueled airport experience

A group of people wearing hard hats and safety vests stand and talk inside a large, partially constructed building with exposed walls and modern ceiling design.
A tour of the new Pittsburgh airport terminal (Courtesy of the Allegheny County Airport Authority)

More than a dozen new technologies will be in place at the new terminal, according to Nayyar, and several current xBridge projects will be demoed in the new space in the coming months. 

One of the most visible xBridge projects will be an interactive digital map from startup Mappedin. Travelers can use it while booking flights to plan their route through the terminal and, once inside, scan QR codes posted throughout the building for step-by-step directions to shops, restaurants and boarding gates.

Several projects focus on improving passenger safety. 

Local unicorn Skild AI will deploy its AI-powered robot dog to patrol the airport perimeter for potential threats, while also gathering data on where travelers are congregating. Plus, xBridge is partnering with BioFlyte, a company that connects its AI-powered tech to the airport’s HVAC system and alerts staff immediately if airborne threats like biotoxins or illegal chemicals are detected.

A humanoid robot wearing a "Skild AI" shirt walks on a forest path while holding a leash attached to a four-legged robot dog.
Skild humanoid robot walking a robot dog (Screenshot/Skild AI)

Other tools will target convenience. 

Smart Parking will direct drivers to open spots and save the location for pickup after a trip. The wait-time tracking Pittsburgh travelers may remember from the old terminal’s security lines will now expand to restaurants and other services. CMU spinout Zensors is installing its computer vision tech throughout the new terminal to give passengers real-time updates on where lines are longest.

Behind the scenes, additional sensors installed on escalators and elevators will automatically alert staff when maintenance is needed, helping prevent breakdowns. And on the hygiene front, PIT is continuing its role as the first US airport to deploy ultraviolet cleaning robots, which disinfect high-traffic areas with UV light.

A man in a suit sits in a server room, holding a key card and resting his arm on a black suitcase. Network cables and equipment are visible in the background.
Pittsburgh International Airport’s CIO Deepak Nayyar (Courtesy of the Allegheny County Airport Authority)

And there’s more to come. Other projects in the works include autonomous wheelchairs, a new mapping tool to help de-ice runways and an iPhone detection program with United Airlines and TSA to track how far travelers are from their gates and send timely notifications, Nayyar said. 

“We want to make sure that [our passengers] get the right experience,” Nayyar said, “not anxiety as [we] open the new terminal.” 

Local ideas take flight through xBridge

Officially launched in 2020, xBridge has helped develop and test over 30 new technologies at the airport – and it’s not just for airlines. New ideas for rental agencies, local concessioners and other businesses get a shot too. 

A yellow robotic arm sorts and moves luggage inside an industrial facility, with suitcases stacked in a storage unit.
Baggage handling tech from xBridge participant Journey Robotics (Courtesy of the Allegheny County Airport Authority)

“We work like a startup environment,” Nayyar said. “ When we see an opportunity, we attack it, we produce a solution as quickly as possible, working with all the stakeholders so that we can iterate on it until we find something that works.” 

While the program works with startups from around the country, it has collaborated with multiple local ones, too. For example, local startup Journey Robotics recently demoed its automated baggage handling robot at the airport. 

Another local startup, Ecotone Renewables, previously tested its proprietary system that transforms food waste into organic fertilizer and clean energy through xBridge. The startup partnered with the airport’s Dunkin’ Donuts to transform 400 pounds of food waste each week, which were used on nearby bushes, Nayyar said. 

“[The] Pittsburgh region is a world leader in technology innovation and robotics,” Nayyar said, “with CMU and lots of robotics companies in the area, and our airport, we think, should mimic what our city is about.”