Utah Valley University (UVU) mechanical engineering and computer science students have unveiled their new autonomous, electric airplane tug. This innovative technology promises to revolutionize the way aircraft are moved from the jetways to takeoff and back, increasing safety, saving fuel, and reducing emissions.

Traditionally, aircraft are guided into position by workers using push-back tractors and jet engines, a costly and inefficient process that burns fuel and emits heated emissions into the air. However, UVU mechanical engineering Professors Matt Jensen and Brett Stone, along with 13 dedicated students, have developed a working prototype of an autonomous, electric aircraft tug that can be remotely operated to steer aircraft on the tarmac.

UVU students proudly showcased their new autonomous electric tug at the Provo Airport on April 12, demonstrating its ability to efficiently move airplanes on the tarmac. The potential impact of the autonomous electric tug is significant.

A 737 airliner at Salt Lake International Airport currently consumes approximately 70-80 gallons of jet fuel while it taxis down the runway for takeoff. By utilizing tugs, it is estimated that the airport could save millions of dollars in fuel costs, with savings of approximately $2.5 million if tugs had been used in 2019. Moreover, the emissions saved would be equivalent to removing over 2,400 cars from the road for a year.

“In some ways, it’s not a groundbreaking idea,” said Brett Stone, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and is a former design engineer at Northrop Grumman. “We have self-driving cars, we have military drones that can be flown from other places, we have tugs, and we have electric vehicles. All the technologies are proven; they’re just not proven together.”

The development of the tug was made possible in part by a $10,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, which is committed to investing in STEM education. The ten mechanical engineering students and three computer science students worked tirelessly on the project, balancing their academic commitments with full and part-time jobs and family responsibilities.

The students’ research involved visiting both the Salt Lake International Airport and the Provo Airport, where they gathered ideas and consulted with experts and technicians on the tarmac. Their dedication and hard work culminated in the successful completion of the tug project, which began in the fall semester of 2023 and concluded in the spring semester of 2024.

“These students are the creative problem solvers that Utah and our world need,” said Jonathan Whitesides of Rocky Mountain Power. “That’s why the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is thrilled to support their work to develop electric-powered tugs — an innovative solution with potential benefits for the environment, the economy, and our shared energy future.”

One of the key advantages of the tug is its remote control capability. Pilots can easily control the tug from anywhere using a computer when it is connected to the airplane, providing convenience and flexibility.

With the successful unveiling of the autonomous electric tug, Professors Jensen and Stone are now focused on the next phase of the project: building a full-size, functioning tug capable of hauling a 737-sized aircraft. They have already sought patents for their innovative design and are optimistic about the potential commercial availability of their tug in the near future.

The process of designing, assembling, and testing the tug has been a voyage of discovery for the students, said Jensen, who said the project has transcended the classroom. In pursuing their goal of creating a working tug, he said, “They start to realize the purpose of them coming to school and getting that degree is not to say that they’ve made it through all these specific classes: It’s to learn how to learn.”