An autonomous vehicle includes a chassis for housing an aircraft ground contacting structure (GCS) and one or more GCS coupling and lifting mechanisms, GCS securing mechanisms, drivetrain, batteries and a sensor stack for performing autonomous navigation. Further, the vehicle incorporates multiple sensors, such as high-resolution machine vision cameras, GPS modules, Lidars, ultrasonic range sensors, and radars. The sensors deliver spatial perception capabilities to the vehicle and feed relevant data to onboard computing units to achieve location-based navigation, precision alignment with aircraft, obstacle detection and collision avoidance capabilities. A series of batteries deliver power to all components, including but not limited to, motors, electromechanical units, onboard computers, sensors and any other component requiring electrical input. External ports allow the vehicle to recharge batteries after each utilization cycle without replacement. The vehicle is capable of recognizing its power state and can autonomously navigate to a base station and dock itself for charging.

The present disclosure provides a multi-vehicle omnidirectional aircraft maneuvering system comprising a plurality of tow vehicles, each tow vehicle comprising a turntable lifting unit (TLU) configured to capture and secure a portion of an aircraft's landing gear, a control unit configured to communicate with and coordinate the movements of the plurality of tow vehicles, and wherein each TLU comprises an automated turntable, a gate configured to open and close to receive landing gear, and a moving floor configured to support the landing gear. The system enables precise positioning and omnidirectional movement of aircraft through coordinated operation of multiple tow vehicles that simultaneously engage with different landing gear components. Each tow vehicle includes sensors for detecting landing gear position and environmental conditions, while the control unit establishes wireless communication to synchronize lifting operations and coordinate simultaneous movement patterns. The turntable lifting units provide rotational capability while maintaining secure engagement with the aircraft's landing gear, allowing for complex maneuvering operations in confined spaces such as aircraft hangars and maintenance facilities.

The present disclosure provides a multi-vehicle omnidirectional aircraft maneuvering system comprising a plurality of tow vehicles, each tow vehicle comprising a turntable lifting unit (TLU) configured to capture and secure a portion of an aircraft's landing gear, a control unit configured to communicate with and coordinate the movements of the plurality of tow vehicles, and wherein each TLU comprises an automated turntable, a gate configured to open and close to receive landing gear, and a moving floor configured to support the landing gear. The system enables precise positioning and omnidirectional movement of aircraft through coordinated operation of multiple tow vehicles that simultaneously engage with different landing gear components. Each tow vehicle includes sensors for detecting landing gear position and environmental conditions, while the control unit establishes wireless communication to synchronize lifting operations and coordinate simultaneous movement patterns. The turntable lifting units provide rotational capability while maintaining secure engagement with the aircraft's landing gear, allowing for complex maneuvering operations in confined spaces such as aircraft hangars and maintenance facilities.

A system for autonomous aircraft towing includes a tow vehicle with a turntable lifting unit for engaging an aircraft's nose landing gear, a sensor system, and an Offline Intelligence Advanced Driver Assistance System (OI-ADAS) integrated with the tow vehicle. The OI-ADAS includes a local processing unit that processes sensor data in volatile memory without persistent storage and a controller that analyzes visual cues to determine position and orientation, generates control commands, controls the turntable lifting unit, and maneuvers the tow vehicle. The OI-ADAS operates without preexisting knowledge of the environment, processing all data exclusively in volatile memory and discarding visual frames after processing. The system detects visual cues on ground surfaces for navigation without relying on pre-existing maps or GPS data. A collision avoidance module detects obstacles and generates avoidance maneuvers in autonomous mode while providing warnings and intervention in operator-controlled mode.

A system for autonomous aircraft towing includes a tow vehicle with a turntable lifting unit for engaging an aircraft's nose landing gear, a sensor system, and an Offline Intelligence Advanced Driver Assistance System (OI-ADAS) integrated with the tow vehicle. The OI-ADAS includes a local processing unit that processes sensor data in volatile memory without persistent storage and a controller that analyzes visual cues to determine position and orientation, generates control commands, controls the turntable lifting unit, and maneuvers the tow vehicle. The OI-ADAS operates without preexisting knowledge of the environment, processing all data exclusively in volatile memory and discarding visual frames after processing. The system detects visual cues on ground surfaces for navigation without relying on pre-existing maps or GPS data. A collision avoidance module detects obstacles and generates avoidance maneuvers in autonomous mode while providing warnings and intervention in operator-controlled mode.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a turntable lifting unit coupled to the vehicle body configured to engage with an aircraft nose landing gear, and a modular high-current battery management system. The system includes at least one removable battery pack module housed within the vehicle body, comprising a battery frame housing a plurality of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, a controller to monitor and control the batteries, a high-current DC power relay for managing current flow, at least one supercapacitor to manage rapid changes in current flow, and at least one semiconductor device to regulate voltage and current levels. The system is capable of providing a peak current output of at least 1000 amperes. This configuration enables the tow vehicle to perform efficient aircraft towing operations with enhanced energy management and operational flexibility.

An aircraft tow vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a turntable lifting unit coupled to the vehicle body configured to engage with an aircraft nose landing gear, and a modular high-current battery management system. The system includes at least one removable battery pack module housed within the vehicle body, comprising a battery frame housing a plurality of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, a controller to monitor and control the batteries, a high-current DC power relay for managing current flow, at least one supercapacitor to manage rapid changes in current flow, and at least one semiconductor device to regulate voltage and current levels. The system is capable of providing a peak current output of at least 1000 amperes. This configuration enables the tow vehicle to perform efficient aircraft towing operations with enhanced energy management and operational flexibility.