Israeli Aerospace Industries has developed a propane-powered robotic taxiing aid designed to cut aircraft emissions and save fuel at airports.
According to IAI, the pilot-controlled taxi-bot would connect to an aircraft's nose gear and pull the aircraft from the gate to the runway, releasing before takeoff.
Officials say the prototype will be ready for testing in about one year, and that airlines as well as one major airframer have expressed interest in the technology. Initial live tests of the system would include a driver on the taxi-bot as a backup.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
