Maintaining the continuous operational readiness of military runways/taxiways and adjacent areas is labor-intensive, highly weather-dependent, and safety-critical. ASSIST 24/7 lays the basis for increasingly automated 24/7 operations at military airfields: a teaming approach of autonomous and crewed special vehicles, coordinated by a hybrid fleet management, keeps areas operational year-round and establishes transparently documented, reproducible procedures.

The project develops key methods and system building blocks: robust self-localization and environment perception, a shared real-time situational picture for task dispatching, and Air-Traffic-Control-compatible procedures for safe operation in the military environment. These components are integrated into a functional demonstrator and experimentally evaluated in representative scenarios, with a focus on traceability, scalability, and usability.

An autonomous multi-purpose carrier vehicle with summer and winter attachments (e.g., snow clearing, cleaning, mowing) serves as the platform; the solution complements the existing fleet and thus enables a realistic path toward semi-autonomous operation without presupposing full automation.

The technologies are addressed in two use cases:

• UC1 - Airfield operation areas: Keeping runways/taxiways clear in winter and regular cleaning in summer; cooperative division of labor between autonomous and crewed vehicles with clear roles, handovers, and safety zones.
• UC2 - Green areas: Maintenance of adjacent areas considering flight safety, biodiversity, and optimal cutting times for use in a biogas plant.

ASSIST 24/7 thus establishes a robust basis for higher area availability, reduced staffing peaks, and enables scaling into subsequent pilot and operational phases.