Blog · 23 September Award for autonomous robot mowers
Three electric robot mowers are now maintaining the grass around Schiphol’s runways. Autonomously. Day and night. Without disrupting flight operations. This innovation has earned Schiphol and Heijmans the IAM NL Award 2026. The award recognises initiatives that excel in vision, execution and impact within infrastructure asset management.
Round-the-clock maintenance
The robotic mowers move autonomously within pre-set working areas. Employees can monitor and control the machines remotely. This means that grass maintenance can also take place at times when work around the runways is normally restricted. The mowers are fully electric.
Working safely in a complex environment
Grass maintenance at an airport involves more than just mowing. The height and composition of the grass affect the presence of birds and other animals around the runways. Effective management therefore contributes to safe operations.
Schiphol tested the first autonomous mowers as early as 2020. Since then, the technology has been further developed into a solution that can be safely deployed in one of the most heavily regulated working environments in the Netherlands.
This practical experience provides valuable insights into autonomous vehicles, safety systems, maintenance and regulations.
First step towards autonomous vehicles
Robot mowers are more than just a new way of maintaining grassy areas. They also represent an important step towards the deployment of fully autonomous vehicles at and around the airport.
Putting this technology into practice will provide greater insight into how autonomous vehicles will eventually be able to operate safely alongside other processes at Schiphol.
IAM NL Award 2026
The IAM NL Award was presented on 17 September during the IAM NL Annual Conference 2026. Schiphol and Heijmans received the award for their joint approach to autonomous grass maintenance. Other nominees included two initiatives by ProRail and the Fieldlab Monitoring Zeelandbrug partnership.
As winners, Schiphol and Heijmans will represent the Netherlands at the international IAM Awards.
Dutch innovation gains international traction
Interest in autonomous vehicles at airports is growing worldwide. For example, four autonomous robot mowers are now operating around the runways at Brisbane Airport in Australia. This initiative utilises expertise and technology developed, in part, in the Netherlands.
What began as a trial at Schiphol is developing into an innovation that is also being adopted internationally.