The objective of the primary project PP01 “Design of an autonomous airport towing vehicle, fully electric and with an extended hydrogen range” (file number VEC-020100-2022-248) is the research and development of an innovative electric vehicle with a draw bar pull capacity of 20,000 pounds and towing capacity for aircraft up to 150 tonnes, featuring autonomous driving assistance for handling operations. This project forms part of the decarbonisation initiative affecting both the transport and aeronautical sectors, and specifically aligns with the Hydrogen Roadmap.

Within this context, the proposed vehicle is of crucial importance since currently, nearly 70% of handling operations involve aircraft that could be towed by autonomous, remotely assisted, energy-efficient electric vehicles. The processes involved in carrying out this project mainly concern the manufacturing processes for towing vehicles with specifications of 20,000 lbs draw bar pull and up to 150 tonnes towing capacity.

At present, the manufacturing of towing vehicles at EINSA (Equipos Industriales y Manutención, S.A.) is carried out manually in different workstations depending on the technical professional profiles required for the construction of each unit. Digitalisation is very basic and not widely implemented; therefore, this project will research a fully automated design for managing the production process of this 20,000 lbs electric towing vehicle, with an extended hydrogen range and autonomous driving capabilities for handling operations.

The project also includes research and development of enabling technologies for industrial sectors linked to transport, in this case applied to segregated or delimited areas within the field of airport transport.

This represents a commitment to research aimed at incorporating artificial intelligence into autonomous driving for a process as specific as aircraft handling operations; harnessing emerging technologies such as the electrification of a professional vehicle of these characteristics; improving resource efficiency and sustainability through extended power assisted by a hydrogen fuel cell; and integrating high added-value services thanks to the inclusion of advanced sensor and actuator technologies to control the towing vehicle. Ultimately, this reflects a firm alignment with the “Industry 4.0” and “Digitalising European Industry – DEI” strategies.

The project involves the companies Equipos Industriales de Manutención (EINSA), IZERTIS, and the technology centre ITCL as the subcontracted entity.

This initiative is part of the larger INVECPRO strategic project — “Cross-cutting industrial research for a new generation of high added-value professional VECs” — funded by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism through the 2022 call of the PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) for the electric vehicle (file number VEC-010000-2022-10).

Project co-funded by: