An information processing method according to the present disclosure includes generating, by a computer, a traveling route for each set of a type of ground support equipment (GSE) to be generated and a type of an aircraft, based on the type of the GSE to be generated indicating a target for which the traveling route indicating a traveling path of the GSE in an airport is generated, the type of the aircraft, coordinates of a departure point and a destination point of the GSE to be generated, and a standard traveling route indicating a traveling route preset for each set of the type of the GSE and the type of the aircraft.

An aircraft includes at least one propulsion system. The at least one propulsion system includes a propulsor, an engine, and an electrical assembly. The engine is coupled to the propulsor and configured to drive rotation of the propulsor. The electrical assembly includes an electric motor, a battery, an external power assembly, and an electrical distribution system. The electric motor is coupled to the propulsor and configured to drive rotation of the propulsor. The external power assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are positionable at an exterior of the aircraft. The electrical distribution system electrically connects the electric motor, the battery, the first connector, and the second connector.

An aircraft includes at least one propulsion system. The at least one propulsion system includes a propulsor, an engine, and an electrical assembly. The engine is coupled to the propulsor and configured to drive rotation of the propulsor. The electrical assembly includes an electric motor, a battery, an external power assembly, and an electrical distribution system. The electric motor is coupled to the propulsor and configured to drive rotation of the propulsor. The external power assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are positionable at an exterior of the aircraft. The electrical distribution system electrically connects the electric motor, the battery, the first connector, and the second connector.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a turntable lifting unit configured to automatically rotate and lift for attachment to a nose landing gear of an aircraft. A gate coupled to the turntable lifting unit automatically unlocks, opens to receive the nose landing gear, closes to secure the nose landing gear, and locks. A sensor system detects the nose landing gear. A controller receives data from the sensor system, processes the data to determine a position of the nose landing gear, and controls the turntable lifting unit while automatically adjusting a position of the tow vehicle relative to the nose landing gear. A moving floor adjusts to accommodate different nose wheel sizes. A nose wheel adapter automatically positions itself to hold down the nose landing gear when weight is detected on the moving floor.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a turntable lifting unit configured to automatically rotate and lift for attachment to a nose landing gear of an aircraft. A gate coupled to the turntable lifting unit automatically unlocks, opens to receive the nose landing gear, closes to secure the nose landing gear, and locks. A sensor system detects the nose landing gear. A controller receives data from the sensor system, processes the data to determine a position of the nose landing gear, and controls the turntable lifting unit while automatically adjusting a position of the tow vehicle relative to the nose landing gear. A moving floor adjusts to accommodate different nose wheel sizes. A nose wheel adapter automatically positions itself to hold down the nose landing gear when weight is detected on the moving floor.

An airport collision avoidance system may include a tow vehicle configured to move an aircraft, the tow vehicle having a first beacon. The airport collision avoidance system may include at least one second beacon associated with at least one object. The airport collision avoidance system may include one or more processing circuits including one or more processors and one or more memories having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: form a mesh network connection between the first beacon and the at least one second beacon; identify relative positionings between the tow vehicle, the aircraft, and the at least one object based on the mesh network connection; and at least partially control the tow vehicle based on the relative positionings between the tow vehicle, the aircraft, and the at least one object.

A towbarless tractor for towing an airplane having a nose landing gear includes a chassis, a body supported on the chassis, a tractive assembly, a driveline configured to drive and steer the tractive assembly, a braking system configured to apply a brake force to the tractive assembly, a capture system including an actuator configured to facilitate capturing the nose landing gear within the capture system, and a controller. The controller is acquire data regarding the airplane, and generate or modify, based on the data, at least one of (a) a steering command provided to the driveline as the capture system approaches the nose landing gear or (b) a side-shift command provided to the actuator as the capture system approaches the nose landing gear.

A towbarless tractor for towing an airplane having a nose landing gear includes a chassis, a body supported on the chassis, a tractive assembly, a driveline configured to drive and steer the tractive assembly, a braking system configured to apply a brake force to the tractive assembly, a capture system including an actuator configured to facilitate capturing the nose landing gear within the capture system, and a controller. The controller is acquire data regarding the airplane, and generate or modify, based on the data, at least one of (a) a steering command provided to the driveline as the capture system approaches the nose landing gear or (b) a side-shift command provided to the actuator as the capture system approaches the nose landing gear.

A towbarless tractor includes a chassis, a body supported on the chassis, a tractive assembly, a driveline configured to drive and steer the tractive assembly, a braking system configured to apply a brake force to the tractive assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to command the driveline to autonomously follow a travel path taken from a home location to a pushback location in a reverse order to return from the pushback location to the home location, and determine, when navigating from the pushback location to the home location, if an object is in a return path from the pushback location to the home location.

A towbarless tractor includes a chassis, a body supported on the chassis, a tractive assembly, a driveline configured to drive and steer the tractive assembly, a braking system configured to apply a brake force to the tractive assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to command the driveline to autonomously follow a travel path taken from a home location to a pushback location in a reverse order to return from the pushback location to the home location, and determine, when navigating from the pushback location to the home location, if an object is in a return path from the pushback location to the home location.