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.

FMI: www.tulsatowbots.com