Eco Factor: Towing vehicle allows airplanes to turn off their engines while taxiing.
Taxiing to and from the airport terminal gate requires pilots to run the main engines, which is a highly inefficient way for slow speed ground movements. Ricardo has developed an alternative – a towing vehicle that enables the pilot to turn off the main engines and rely on the pulling force of the tug.
Dubbed TaxiBot, the demonstrator robotic, pilot-controlled towing vehicle has been developed for Israel Aerospace Industries. The concept is capable to operate with both wide and narrow bodies commercial airliners. The trick is an automated clamper that is placed within a standard tug. The vehicle is operated by the aircraft’s controls. However, instead of powering up the main engines, the vehicle pulls the airplanes with two 500hp V8 engines that considerably reduce emissions.
Via: AutoBlog
