Green. Quiet. Efficient.
The world’s only certified and operational Taxiing alternative
Concept
TaxiBot® Taxiboting Concept
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Pushback operation and procedures performed by the TaxiBot operator
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Immediate taxiing after pushback eliminating bottlenecks in the gate area
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Taxiing with engines stopped. Engines start shortly before take-off with respect to required warm-up time
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Pilot is in control at all times (after Pushback) using airplane tiller and brake pedals (transparent to pilot as in regular taxiing)
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Taxiing at 23 knots, same as current airplane taxi speed
Aircraft taxiing at airports consume large amounts of fuel, emit tons of CO2, and create excessive noise.
The aviation industry demands alternative means to tow airplanes from gate to take-off with
engines stopped (dispatch towing).
All previous attempts at Dispatch Towing were unsuccessful due to two main reasons:
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Increased fatigue loads that shorten the aircraft Nose Landing Gear (NLG) life cycle; which is unacceptable for safety and economic reasons
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Aircraft not having a Pilot in Control (PIC) when towed by a normal tractor: which is unacceptable for safety, accountability and regulatory reasons
IAI developed with Airbus and TLD an innovative new towbarless towing device concept – the TaxiBot (Taxiing Robot). TaxiBot is a semi-autonomous system that enables airplane taxiing without engines running, controlled by the pilot and without shortening NLG life time.
A proprietary TaxiBot-aircraft NLG interface mechanism provides pilot steering capability, using the airplane's existing controls in the cockpit. Taxiing speed is controlled by the pilot using the A/C brakes.
The TaxiBot system provides the pilot with the same handling characteristics as if taxiing with engines. In most cases no modification to aircraft is required and minor if any modifications to airports infrastructure are required.
The TaxiBot system can save airlines billions of dollars in fuel costs and FOD damages. TaxiBot has the additional benefit of reduced noise and air pollution without affecting airport safety and efficiency.
