An airplane towing system includes telescoping actuators on tow rods that react to pushing, towing, and turning forces to distribute the forces to the tow rods rather than to an airplane structure.

An assistance vehicle designed for supplying electrical energy to an electric taxiing device of an aircraft landing gear when the aircraft is moving over the ground. The assistance vehicle includes an autonomous energy source, a connector enabling it to be coupled to the aircraft and to electrically power the electric taxiing device. When an assistance instruction comprising the aircraft position is received, the assistance vehicle moves in an autonomous manner so as to reach the position of the aircraft, is automatically connected to the electric taxiing device when the assistance vehicle reaches the position of the aircraft and switches into freewheeling mode. When the assisted move has finished, the assistance vehicle is separated from the electric taxiing device and switches back into tractor mode. Thus, the electrical power supply system of the aircraft is simplified by externalizing the electrical supply of the electric taxiing device.

Systems and methods are disclosed for vehicle integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Example methods may include coupling a landing dish of a vehicle integrated UAS to a ground station assembly; positioning the landing dish and the ground station assembly into a portion of a vehicle and a capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS; and coupling the landing dish to the capping member of the vehicle integrated UAS. In various embodiments, the vehicle integrated UAS may be configured to send and receive information (e.g., route information, power information, status information, etc.) between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) associated with the UAS to device(s) of a vehicle.

In an embodiment, a system includes a frame configured to support a load, a first set of wheels provided on the frame, a second set of wheels provided on the frame, and a controller. The first set of wheels is configured to descend or ascend in response to the controller, and is oriented to move in a first direction. The second set of wheels is configured to descent or ascend in response to the controller, and is oriented to move in a different direction from the first direction. The controller configured to control the descent and ascent of the second set of wheels and the first set of wheels.

In an embodiment, an airport electric vehicle charging system includes a current transducer electrically coupled with a power source; a solid state converter electrically coupleable with an aircraft at or near an airport gate and configured to provide and maintain power to the aircraft; and a controller. The system further includes a first feedback loop between the controller and the current transducer; a second feedback loop between the controller and the solid state converter; and a battery charger electrically coupled with the power source and configured to charge one or more electric vehicles. The first feedback loop provides a first feedback signal generated by the current transducer to the controller. The second feedback loop provides a second feedback signal generated by the solid state converter to the controller. The battery charger is configured to consume power from the power source in accordance with the first and second feedback signals.

In an embodiment, an airport electric vehicle charging system includes a current transducer electrically coupled with a power source; a solid state converter electrically coupleable with an aircraft at or near an airport gate and configured to provide and maintain power to the aircraft; and a controller. The system further includes a first feedback loop between the controller and the current transducer; a second feedback loop between the controller and the solid state converter; and a battery charger electrically coupled with the power source and configured to charge one or more electric vehicles. The first feedback loop provides a first feedback signal generated by the current transducer to the controller. The second feedback loop provides a second feedback signal generated by the solid state converter to the controller. The battery charger is configured to consume power from the power source in accordance with the first and second feedback signals.

A universal hitch adapter system includes a universal hitch adapter with at least one force sensor operable to measure push-and-pull forces and coupled to a) one of a front end and a rear end of an aircraft tractor and b) an aircraft tow bar coupled to a nose gear of an aircraft. The system also including a memory; a user input interface operable to receive a user's selection of one of a plurality of aircrafts stored in the memory and a user's input associated with one of a shear pin; a processor operably configured to determine at least one shear pin breaking force threshold for each of the plurality of aircrafts based on the user's input; and an indicator operable to emit an alert as a result of the force sensor measuring a force that meets or exceeds the at least one shear pin breaking force threshold.

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 taxi tug includes a chassis, a motive power source, and an auxiliary power services system. The chassis has at least one drive wheel. The motive power source is operatively connected to the at least one drive wheel. The auxiliary power services system is disposed on the chassis and is configured to provide at least one of electric power, pneumatic power, and low pressure conditioned air to an aircraft.

Anti-collision airport system including a motorized mobile device to be moved close to an aircraft. The system includes a database to record structural characteristics of categories of aircraft and structural characteristics of the motorized mobile device. The controller is configured to identify a category corresponding to the aircraft and a positioning of the motorized mobile device with respect to the aircraft, search and retrieve, from the database, structural characteristics associated with the category corresponding to the aircraft and structural characteristics of the motorized device, calculate a trajectory for the movement of the motorized mobile device on the basis of the structural characteristics of the aircraft and of the motorized mobile device and of the positioning of the motorized mobile device with respect to the aircraft, and control the motorized mobile device according to the calculated trajectory.