TaxiBot @ BRU

ECATS

A strong and diverse European partnership

2

Specific Partners

Knowledge Institutions & Academics

Three Fellow Airports

Airport Community Partners

Consultants in Energy, Mobility & Digitalisation

Brussels airport

Machelen

BRUcargo

A201

Why sustainable taxiing?

Paving the way for greener taxiing

1.

Why sustainable taxiing?

As an airport operator, we have to encourage all parties to be as sustainable as possible. An area with potential significant fuel reduction is the aircraft taxi operation.

LTO charges

To encourage airlines to use their most fuel-efficient and quietest aircraft at our airport.

APU off

Power (400Hz) and preconditioned air available at the gate.

Green Taxiing

Tractor brings the aircraft to the start of the runway, without the use of the aircraft’s engines.

Solution: TaxiBot

Only certified solution to taxi certain narrow-bodied aircraft�with passengers, cargo and fuel at normal taxiing speed

• Unique certification: TaxiBot for B737 (and A320 family)
• Airport based undercarriage truck, avoiding modification to airplane systems or extra weight on board
• Pilot controlled semi-robotic truck: pilot remains in control during the whole procedure using the same controls as in normal taxi.
• Reducing load on nose landing gear: pilot braking by main landing gear system >< conventional tractor braking
• Load on NLG is maintained, constantly monitored and data is logged

​

Trials at Brussels Airport

Putting TaxiBot to the test

2.

Our objectives for the test

Co-create with key airlines, handlers and ANSP

Familiarise ourselves with the TaxiBot

Develop taxi routes and determine (de)coupling points and procedures

Test in adverse weather conditions

Evaluate the impact on operations and sustainable benefits

Develop a strategy and business case for zero-emission airport ground handling

Partners for the tests

Step by step approach

Technical towing

PAX flight to 25R

Cargo flight to 25R

Key outcomes

Measuring the impact on noise and UFP

3.

�

• 5 scenario’s
• Double engine taxiing
• Single engine taxiing
• TaxiBot – Route 1: towards hangar
• TaxiBot – Route 2: towards pier
• TaxiBot only

​

​

Route 1

Route 2

Noise and UFP measurements

Conclusions

• Taxibot is a significant noise reducer
• With a 5 to 10 dB reduction using TaxiBots, it has potential to significantly lower noise pollution at airports.

​

• The use of the TaxiBot has a large impact on UFP near the source
• TaxiBot greatly reduces UFP near the source, with a significant drop in concentration and fewer smaller particles during taxiing.

​

• Improving Local Environmental Quality:
• By reducing both noise and UFP emissions, TaxiBot can enhance environmental conditions for surrounding neighborhoods and tarmac workers.

Evaluation of our objectives

Co-create with key airlines, handlers and ANSP

Develop taxi routes and determine (de)coupling points and procedures

Test in adverse weather conditions

Evaluate the impact on operations and sustainable benefits

Develop a strategy and business case for zero-emission airport ground handling

Taxibot: more than sustainability

Thank you!