“Airbus Equips Electric Truck with Airliner Cockpit for Taxiing Study”, Airbus is unveiling a unique vehicle in Paris—an electric truck equipped with basic A350 airliner controls. The company aims to showcase how automated taxiing can enhance airport safety, particularly amidst rising concerns regarding ground collisions involving jetliners.
At VivaTech, Europe’s largest technology event, Airbus is displaying the converted electric truck, which boasts the capability to operate in two modes: normal driving or controlled by aircraft systems. Equipped with sensors, the vehicle navigates warning lines and obstacles, with onboard computers directing it to a designated spot, managing acceleration and braking as required.
Matthieu Gallas, head of automation research at Airbus UpNext, the planemaker’s innovation lab, emphasized the complexity and critical nature of these use cases compared to those in the automotive industry. He noted, “Copying and pasting technology already available on the market won’t work.”
While Airbus is cautious about directly connecting the research to specific accidents, comparisons with incidents like January’s fiery Tokyo collision between a landing A350 and a coast guard plane are inevitable. Airbus has refrained from commenting on the accident, which is currently under investigation.
Another investigation was initiated last month following a collision between the wingtip of an empty Virgin Atlantic jet and a stationary British Airways jet. Additionally, in February, U.S. regulators announced an investigation into a collision between two JetBlue planes at Boston Logan airport.
At the Paris exhibition center hosting tech innovators at VivaTech, Airbus showcases a vehicle navigating through a side alley, illustrating how automation can safely maneuver multi-million-dollar jets through increasingly congested airports.
Incidents on slow-speed ramps, while rarely fatal, pose a significant and escalating challenge for airlines, airports, insurers, and passengers. The resulting delays incur substantial costs and inconvenience for all involved parties.
