The towing system is intended to enable an aircraft to taxi without the use of its engines. The robotically driven vehicles could save billions each year in fuel
Lufthansa and Israel Aerospace Industries jointly completed a test of the semi-robotic towing system TaxiBot, with a 747-400 at Frankfurt International Airport, during "severe weather conditions." The towing system is intended to enable an aircraft to taxi without the use of its engines.
The robotically driven vehicles could save billions each year in fuel. The demonstrator vehicle weighs 52 tonnes and is powered by twin, 500hp V8 diesel engines which operate a complex hydrostatic drive system as well as hydraulic systems handling the 4-wheel steering and aircraft pick-up and clamp actuators.
During the demonstration, all taxiing processes were controlled by the aircraft's pilots from the cockpit, using the normal tiller and braking pedals just as in regular airplane taxiing.
"The overall impression is very good, and better than I expected," LH 747 Pilot Bernd Pfeffer said. "Steering the aircraft using the TaxiBot with all kinds of turns was absolutely to my liking in addition to the accelerating and braking capabilities that were good. A big advantage of using the TaxiBot is on icy or slippery surfaces where traction is now better, and safety is increased when turning. I wouldn't change anything at all."
The test at Frankfurt followed a test in Toulouse on an A340-600 test aircraft, conducted by Airbus and IAI during the second quarter of 2010.
