MAGOG, Quebec—Aviation ground support equipment maker TLD Group has selected Camso Inc.'s Solideal AIR 561 ground support equipment tire for its TractEasy driverless baggage tractor and Jet-16 baggage tractor.
"We're impressed with the dedication of Camso's development team in designing not just a long-life solution, but one that tackles the specific challenges of ground support applications," Yves Crespel, communication director at TLD, an Alvest Group company, said in a statement. "With the Solideal AIR 561, we're confident customers will be equipped with a performing solution that will lower their overall operating costs."
The Solideal AIR 561's ribbed tread pattern minimizes vibration due to uneven wear and reduces snaking, Camso said.
"Its energy-efficient rubber compound also helps reduce wear and rolling resistance, while its unique 'lug with sipes' design increases traction in low-grip conditions," the company said.
TractEasy is a driverless baggage tractor designed to navigate a complex and live-ramp environment. The TractEasy was designed in collaboration with EasyMile S.A.S., a company that specializes in autonomous vehicle technology.
"This complete solution integrates the ramp operation organization, the safety parameters of the unit on the ramp, the navigational software to optimize routes as well as the vital security layers to ensure protection against outside interference," TLD said in a 2017 statement announcing the project with EasyMile.
"As a driverless vehicle that operates in normal traffic, without infrastructure modification and in all weather conditions, the need for a GSE tire that would excel in reliability, lifespan and versatility was critical," Crespel said. "The field tests we conducted confirmed that Solideal AIR 561 was the right tire for the application, not only for our new autonomous vehicle, but also for our core product, the Jet-16."
Magog-based Camso is a Michelin subsidiary.