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Cire

Taxibot to cut taxiing fuel cost..

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ENGINES on airliners are highly efficient when they are in flight, but not when operating on the ground. When a plane is taxiing under its own power, the engines burn vast amounts of fuel. A Boeing 747 can consume a tonne of fuel and emit several tonnes of carbon dioxide during an average 17-minute taxi to take-off. And when the aircraft lands there is likely to be another long drive to the passenger gate. Which is why there are various methods being developed for aircraft to use other means of propulsion while moving around an airport.

 

Towing aircraft with a tug, similar to how they are pushed back from the gate, is one way. But constantly pulling on the front landing gear can lead to mechanical problems. Many pilots would also prefer to be in control of the driving once their aircraft is on the taxiway.

 

 

 

One method that addresses both concerns is a semi-robotic tug called TaxiBot, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Instead of using a tow bar attached to the aircraft’s nose wheel, TaxiBot employs a mechanism which automatically scoops the wheel up into a rotating turret.

 

The TaxiBot also avoids having any complicated links to connect to the cockpit, yet still gives the pilots driving control. It does this by accelerating to the speed set for the taxiway, using its inbuilt GPS map system. The pilots then use their usual controls to steer with the nose wheel (which in turn steers the TaxiBot) and to brake with the main landing gear. A safety driver remains in the TaxiBot, and he also drives the vehicle to and from the aircraft.

 

With the high price of aviation fuel—a tonne can cost more than $1,000—the savings at a busy airport could be large. At some airports the passenger gates can be several miles from the runway. All told, the world’s airlines spend $7 billion-8 billion a year taxiing between passenger gates and the runway, says Yehoshua Eldar, who is in charge of business development at IAI. The TaxiBot, though, uses just 20-30 litres of fuel for a typical trip. It also reduces the risk of debris being ingested by the engines and causing damage. Germany’s Lufthansa will trial the system at Frankfurt Airport from May 2013.

 

In the future some airliners may be driven to and from the runway with electric power. The German Aerospace Centre has tested this idea in an aircraft using a fuel cell to power two electric motors built into the hub of an aircraft nose wheel. The centre reckons that up to 19% of current airport emissions could be saved using such a system. And it would also please the neighbours: there would be hardly any noise during taxiing.

Edited by Cire

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We are not likely to see this gadget operational at any Malaysian airport then ?! :)

 

 

At one point or another we also used another (technically) Israeli product all the time - ICQ, and I didn't recount politicians kick a fuss about Malaysians using it.

 

So if there are benefits of somehow getting and deploying them here, as long as the politicians don't make a big fuss about it we'll be fine...

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..... and I didn't recount politicians kick a fuss about Malaysians using it.

That is probably because those clueless opportunists were not aware of it or it wasn't to their advantage to kick up any fuss over issue :)

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it's quite a waste not to use any technology or products that promote efficiency just because it's created by an Israeli company. First, i never agreed with useless and pointless boycott on products that have ties with Israel (so they say) like Starbucks, Mc Donalds, etc because it will die down when they hype worn off. Nor i agree their hostility towards Palestinian in the Banks.

 

Second, we all know Israel created many more technological breakthrough service like battery swapping eco car, data encryption and so on that largely benefit us, including the Muslims without we knowing it. We only chose to boycott on the surface but deep down we still need whatever the Jews created. Facebook, Microsoft, aircraft parts made in Israel, defense products, and APCO.

 

Instead of learning on such small country with literally zero friendly neighbours flourish, we chose to hate blindly and seasonally. Why not hate and boycott the Arabs when clearly they are the nearest one but they do nothing, instead, they become US and A biggest ally in the MENA region (speaking of Saudi Arabia, with their gleaming fighter jets, Abram tanks and many more)..

 

Back to Taxi Bot, i see this as a breakthrough. Maybe, in 5 years it can make its debut in KUL (operated by KLAS who else). Taxi fuel in 737-300/400 can consume as much as 250 kg of precious fuel.

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Nor i agree their hostility towards Palestinian in the Banks.

 

Well, their hostility is quite obvious though - occupying most of Palestine (dishonouring UN agreement), building illegal settlements (in West Bank) and denying basic rights and needs of Palestinians (blocking off Gaza border from the rest of the world with Egypt's 'cooperation').

 

OK, enough OT for me now.

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Instead of learning on such small country with literally zero friendly neighbours flourish, we chose to hate blindly and seasonally. Why not hate and boycott the Arabs when clearly they are the nearest one but they do nothing, instead, they become US and A biggest ally in the MENA region (speaking of Saudi Arabia, with their gleaming fighter jets, Abram tanks and many more)..

 

Most Arabs countries have diplomatic relationship with Israel. Why Malaysians are zealously defending Palestinians while Arabs are keeping arms length from them? Why Arabs are keeping arms length from Palestinians? :sorry:

Edited by KK Lee

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Why Malaysians are zealously defending Palestinians while Arabs are keeping arms length from them?

 

Because we feel that Palestinians do not get socio-economic opportunity that they should have gotten.

 

 

Why Arabs are keeping arms length from Palestinians? :sorry:

 

Sad but true, but some Arab countries were fighting against Israel during Yom Kippur War (which proves costly to both sides). Now they especially in the Gulf region are now focusing on more humanitarian grounds to help Palestinians. Qatar Emir visited Gaza and plan to donate to build infrastructure there. Better than nothing really I would say. :)

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At busy airports, I suppose they will need to have a fleet of these TaxiBots at the ready at end of the active runways

Wonder how much time is required for the plane to get engaged onto this gadget and how it will impact upon runway efficiency ?

Interesting to see if these ever get to see service during peak periods at LHR (say 6am ?) - the synchrony required would be awesome ! :)

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At busy airports, I suppose they will need to have a fleet of these TaxiBots at the ready at end of the active runways

Wonder how much time is required for the plane to get engaged onto this gadget and how it will impact upon runway efficiency ?

Interesting to see if these ever get to see service during peak periods at LHR (say 6am ?) - the synchrony required would be awesome ! :)

It will need a huge fleet if the ops were to proceed smoothly. Towing an aircraft from gate to the runway and then repositioning the taxibot to receive landing aircraft requires a good deal of co-ordination. They need a seperate controller to do all this!

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Alternatively, like mentioned in the last paragraph of the article, aircrafts may have electric motors in-built into their wheels. The aircraft can then power up later for take off.

 

I think this will be more acceptable as the control of the aircraft is still with the pilots.

 

 

As for the Isrealies and Arabs, they are all brothers and sisters to each other. Issues arises when one does not accept the existence and capability of the other. If one take a closer look at both cultures, there are similarities in them. Palestinian issues are more about economic-control of a certain group than religion in whole which is made a scapegoat in this case.

Anyway, lifes' too short to muddle in this silly issue.

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Precisely Cire, it's a land grab between offsprings of the 2 wives of Abraham, with religions being hijacked along the way. Pathetic ain't it?

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Most Arabs countries have diplomatic relationship with Israel. Why Malaysians are zealously defending Palestinians while Arabs are keeping arms length from them? Why Arabs are keeping arms length from Palestinians? :sorry:

 

it is ironic how the Malaysian government are really concern about the welfare of some far flung nation ( which the main reason is because they share a common religion), while they remained totally bias on many occasion and policies in their home soil.

 

Precisely Cire, it's a land grab between offsprings of the 2 wives of Abraham, with religions being hijacked along the way. Pathetic ain't it?

 

People need to draw a clear line to identify who their foe or friends are. History has it that people have been divided along the lines of religion, race, language, gender, age, border, social classes, economic status, political ideologies and so forth.

Edited by S V Choong

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Actually, I think equipping aircraft with a separate electric motor on the gear would be the way to go. These things are small, don't weight more than a person, dont need gearboxes and are best at low speeds

 

 

Because we feel that Palestinians do not get socio-economic opportunity that they should have gotten.

 

And the Malaysian government practices fair socio-economic policy ? :pardon:

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And the Malaysian government practices fair socio-economic policy ? :pardon:

 

Actually it is, depends which side land your feet on. :p It seems fair to one group, but not for other groups!

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Actually it is, depends which side land your feet on. :p It seems fair to one group, but not for other groups!

 

Myth: It is based on race. Truth: It is based on your political allegiance.

 

Sorry, waaaaaaay OT.

 

Maybe someday aircraft will have electric motors that can taxi the aircraft all the way to the runway, powered by the APU....Hmm, thats an idea, isn't it? Agree with you, Timothy.

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Actually, I think equipping aircraft with a separate electric motor on the gear would be the way to go. These things are small, don't weight more than a person, dont need gearboxes and are best at low speeds

 

And the Malaysian government practices fair socio-economic policy ? :pardon:

 

I am just saying the people should have access to necessary and very basic daily life needs such as sturdy shelter, food, medicine, jobs and security without fear for their lives.

 

Back to topic, yeah, good thing having motor to Move aircraft on the ground, so tarmacs wont be so noisy afterall.

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Try the technology on a small airport and then move on to bigger ones.

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Maybe someday aircraft will have electric motors that can taxi the aircraft all the way to the runway, powered by the APU....Hmm, thats an idea, isn't it? Agree with you, Timothy.

 

It's already available for the A320 actually!

 

http://www.wheeltug.gi/index.shtml

Edited by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

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