Self-driving planes might be closer than you think.

Airbus sees autonomous technology as a way to relieve airport congestion — at a time when near-misses have been getting more common and air traffic control is under increasing pressure.

At a summit hosted by the European planemaker last month, Business Insider got to experience the technology firsthand.

Optimate is a three-year research project from the Airbus research-and-development subsidiary called UpNext.

It's been testing out the technology on a small electric truck — equipped with a sidestick and elements of an A350 flight deck. Airbus calls it a "cockpit on wheels."

As well as geo-location sensors, the Optimate team have been testing lidar, radar, and cameras to let the truck drive itself.

With the registration "OPTI1", 150 hours of tests have taken place at Airbus headquarters and the adjacent runways of Toulouse-Blagnac Airport — working with air traffic control.

This reporter had the chance to sit alongside two Airbus engineers in the back of the truck during a short journey, while another reporter sat in the front.

The author in the Optimate truck, and the engineers' monitors. Pete Syme/BI

Two monitors in the back showed an array of visuals from interior and exterior cameras to a map — created by the sensors with a SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm.

The engineer was able to remotely control the parking brake and, after we got moving, set the truck to drive autonomously. It smoothly followed the centerline of a taxiway in the company's delivery center.

Close calls on the rise

Optimate is also testing the ability for automatic braking, detecting obstacles, and avoiding collisions.

It could be a vital technology as close calls have been on the rise at airports.

In 2023, The New York Times reported that they were happening multiple times a week on average.

A Southwest Airlines plane had to go around in February after a private jet entered a runway "without authorization" at Chicago's Midway Airport in February, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

While taxiing, aircraft have clipped wings or collided with ground vehicles.

Airport operations have suffered due to a lack of air traffic control staffing as well as much of its technology being outdated.

Reduce delays

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has called for more funding in staffing, technology, and facilities — backing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's plan to "supercharge" hiring by accelerating the process and boosting pay.

As well as the risk of collisions on the tarmac, airport congestion can cause delays. Kirby said air traffic control restrictions were responsible for just over two-thirds of United's delays.

It's set to get more complicated, too. In 20 years, Airbus predicts there will be twice as many planes in the sky.

Ultimately, UpNext is aiming for aircraft to automatically communicate with one another as well as the airport control tower. The autonomous system could then respond or alert the crew accordingly.

Airbus hopes to test its autonomous taxiing tech with an A350 next year.

While Optimate is focused on automating the taxiing phase for now, there's more work on automation ahead.

As well as offering virtual assistance, staffers at the summit told BI that they're working on using AI to predict traffic and help pilots reroute to avoid bad weather or turbulence.