We Could Have Some SERIOUS Fun With This At The Airport...
by ANN Correspondent Evan Sweetman
Among the memorabilia and treasures found in the FlyMarket at
Oshkosh was one particular gem: a remote controlled aircraft towing
device. The beefier cousin of the Roomba automated vacuum cleaner,
the iTowBot is designed to tow up to 15,000lbs gross weight.
Tulsa TowBots, the company that builds the robot has video on
their website of it pulling a Cessna Citation. The company has
tested a gear reduction system that allows the tow system to pull
up to 30,000 pounds, or in the case of the test, a Hawker
700.
"Lancair is buying three or four already," said Gary Sipes,
co-founder of Tulsa Towbots. "We've been doing great [at Oshkosh].
Sun & Fun was our first show, and after this we're headed to
TBM [sic]."
Since launching the tow in January, the company has already
received 30 orders.
EADS Socata used one on its TBM 850 throughout the week of Oshkosh
2007.
"It's been working good. It's nice and small," one Socata
employee said when returning the tow.
It is capable of zero-turn radius, and can turn an aircraft
within the span of its wings. The wheel carriage rotates
independently of the rest of the machine which eliminates the risk
of over-rotation of the nose gear.
To load an aircraft on the robotic tow, the operator simply has
to back the tow against the nose wheel. The aircraft will roll onto
the carriage, which will then lock in place. The company suggests
the aircraft's main gear be chocked to ease the process.
Once loaded onto the tow, the operator is free to move the
aircraft about using a remote control that looks much like one used
for an R/C car. The DX2.0 control communicates on a digital
spectrum so there is no risk of radio frequency interference.
If the iTowBot should pick up interference or lose the signal
from the remote control, it will automatically stop. While the
operator is controlling the tow, they are free to move around to
change their vantage point up to 80 feet away. Power regulation is
built into the design to allow for smooth stops and starts.
The batteries allow for four hours of use before recharge. They
normally take about one to two hours to recharge and four hours to
fully recharge from empty.
The tow costs about $6000 and is almost entirely maintenance
free. An option is available for a wider base to handle dual nose
gears, though the design cannot handle wheel pants.
"It only takes us about an hour to build the bot, but it takes a
week or two to get the parts shipped to us," Sipes said. "I just
talked to a manufacturer from Tulsa yesterday who is interested in
subcontracting for us. I showed him the blueprints and he liked
what he saw, so I think we're signed on. And when we've got 50 or
so orders, we need to get those sent out."
Assuming customers would actually read it, iTowBot does come
with a fairly substantial user's manual. The company also suggests
paying heed to propeller position, particularly with three-bladed
propellers.
Tulsa TowBots also offers a version with a trailer hitch instead
of the wheel carriage for an aircraft.