Detroit Metro Airport Rolls out Autonomous Wheelchairs to Transport Passengers

Autonomous wheelchairs are great for getting from point A to point B but they are far from perfect.

Marlene Gelfand rides in an autonomous wheelchair at McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on April 14, 2025, in Detroit. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, woman was traveling to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was trying out the new service at the airport. Andy Morrison/The Detroit News/TNS

By Myesha Johnson The Detroit News

ROMULUS, Mich.—Travelers with mobility issues or who have trouble walking long distances will have another option to get to their gates under a new pilot program unveiled Monday at Detroit Metro Airport’s McNamara terminal: autonomous wheelchairs.