An electric pushback vehicle includes a frame having a forward portion and a rear portion. The vehicle further includes front drive axle and a rear drive axle configured to communicate power to ground engaging members. A traction battery is housed within the electric pushback vehicle and provides electric power to an electric motor to drive an output shaft. A transmission is connected to receive mechanical power from the electric motor through a torque converter.

In one aspect, there is disclosed a taxi vehicle comprising a chassis having a coupler to connect to a coupling location of a craft and a set of wheels with at least one electric motor coupled to the set of wheels. The taxi vehicle can include a fuel cell coupled to the at least one electric motor and a battery coupled to the fuel cell. The battery can be configured to supply peak power demand to the at least one electric motor to start moving the craft. The battery can receive charging from the fuel cell when not supplying peak power demand while the fuel cell supplies power to the at least one electric motor to continue moving the craft.

The disclosed embodiments describe collision warning devices, controllers, and computer readable media. A collision warning device for towing vehicles includes a housing, a scanning sensor, a display, and a controller. The housing is configured to be secured to at least one of a tow operator and a tug during aircraft towing operations. The a scanning sensor is secured to the housing and is configured to scan an aircraft and to scan an object in an environment surrounding the aircraft. The controller is mounted to the housing and is operably coupled with the scanning sensor and the display. The controller is configured to generate a three dimensional (3D) model of the aircraft and the environment based on a signal output from the scanning sensor, and to calculate potential collisions between the aircraft and the object based on the 3D model.

A collision avoidance system for an airplane under tow may include a sensing device configured to capture image data of at least a portion of the airplane and an object while the airplane is being towed. The sensing device may be located remotely to both the airplane and the object. Positions of two or more features of the airplane may be determined based on the image data. A bounding box encompassing the airplane may be generated based, at least in part, on the positions of the two or more features. Additionally, based on a comparison of the position of an object relative to the bounding box, it may be determined whether the object is within a predetermined distance from the airplane.

A system for assisting in guiding of an aircraft maneuvered by an aircraft tractor on the ground, the system including at least one projection device including a laser generating a laser beam fixed to an anchor point of the fuselage of the aircraft. A fixing mechanism is configured to fix the projection device to an anchor point of the fuselage, the laser beam from each laser projector then plotting a light trace on the ground to be used to assist in guiding the aircraft on the ground. A camera can film the light trace on the ground. A remote display device includes a screen, the display device being positioned on the aircraft tractor for the screen to be visible to an operator of the aircraft tractor, each projection device being connected to the display device, the display device being configured to display the image from each projection device camera.

An electric pushback vehicle includes a frame having a forward portion and a rear portion. The vehicle further includes front drive axle and a rear drive axle configured to communicate power to ground engaging members. A traction battery is housed within the electric pushback vehicle and provides electric power to an electric motor to drive an output shaft. A transmission is connected to receive mechanical power from the electric motor through a torque converter.

An electric pushback vehicle includes a frame having a forward portion and a rear portion. The vehicle further includes front drive axle and a rear drive axle configured to communicate power to ground engaging members. A traction battery is housed within the electric pushback vehicle and provides electric power to an electric motor to drive an output shaft. A transmission is connected to receive mechanical power from the electric motor through a torque converter.

An airport terminal traffic and parking management system, which can be automated, is provided wherein one or more and preferably a plurality of the aircraft at an airport are moved on the ground between landing and takeoff without operation of aircraft engines or risks from jet blast and engine ingestion. Aircraft can be moved in a forward direction by tow vehicles, aircraft-moving transfer apparatus, or the like after landing to park in an efficient orientation relative to an airport terminal. Passengers deplaning and boarding and aircraft servicing can use all accessible aircraft doors to minimize time at a gate. Aircraft cleared for departure can be turned and moved in a forward direction to a takeoff runway, where the aircraft-moving apparatus is detached. Airport terminal aircraft traffic and parking are most effectively managed when a significant number of aircraft at an airport are moved by external vehicles as described.

A collision avoidance system for an airplane under tow may include a sensing device configured to capture image data of at least a portion of the airplane and an object while the airplane is being towed. The sensing device may be located remotely to both the airplane and the object. Positions of two or more features of the airplane may be determined based on the image data. A bounding box encompassing the airplane may be generated based, at least in part, on the positions of the two or more features. Additionally, based on a comparison of the position of an object relative to the bounding box, it may be determined whether the object is within a predetermined distance from the airplane.

Collision warning systems, collision warning devices, and methods of operating collision warning systems are disclosed herein. A collision warning system includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of proximity sensors and a computer device. The plurality of proximity sensors are configured to mount on an aircraft and to generate a proximity signal. The computer device is communicatively coupled with the plurality of proximity sensors and is configured to determine a location in which the collision warning system is located, where the location includes at least one of a country and a region. The computer device is further configured to select an active linguistic profile based on the location, where the active linguistic profile includes at least one of a language and a dialect. The computer device is yet further configured to alert ground crew of potential collisions using the active linguistic profile and based on the proximity signal.