Airbus has launched an R&D project to test automatic aircraft taxiing and new pilot assistance features using an electric truck.
The three year Optimate project is being run by Airbus UpNext, the company’s R&D subsidiary in France. Initial trials with the “flying truck” have already taken place at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and future testing will be done at a larger international airport.
The truck recreates an A350 cockpit using a virtual flight deck and features computer vision and automation technologies that use LIDAR and external cameras, combined with inertia and GPS technologies, satcom and 5G. The back of the truck contains a full flight test installation so engineers can monitor the tests
Optimate combines automation, computer vision, data fusion and machine learning technologies to improve aircraft navigation systems, the human-machine interface and overall flight safety.
An electric truck is being used to help reduce CO2 emissions from the test operations. According to Airbus the truck replicates the key functions of a real aircraft cockpit and can roll down airport runways like an airliner.
Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext said, “Our ambition is to use the best technologies to make our aircraft even more aware of their operating conditions, analyzing it in as much detail as possible to become smart and reliable assistants to pilots, providing them with the optimal assistance.”
Optimate’s automatic taxiing will be based on accurate and reliable position calculations. Quantum sensing – sensors that detect changes in motion, electric and magnetic fields at the atomic level – will also be investigated for its potential to improve position availability and navigation system robustness.
Another objective is to investigate the capabilities of a collaborative map and virtual flight assistant to support pilots’ strategic decisions and interactions with air traffic control and airline operations centers.
The final phase of the project will test the use of a virtual assistant during a fully automated gate-to-gate mission on an A350 flight test aircraft.
