Systems and methods for air vehicles
US10479523B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/101
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling in-flight refueling of a receiver aircraft having a fuel receptacle, comprising: automatically steering a refueling device to an engagement enabling position, including: repeatedly determining a spatial disposition of the refueling device with respect to the receiver aircraft, the refueling device being capable of engaging and refueling the receiver aircraft via a boom member, when the device arrives to the engagement enabling position at which the boom member is in a predetermined spaced and spatial relationship with respect to the fuel receptacle of the receiver aircraft; repeatedly calculating steering commands based at least on the repeatedly determined spatial dispositions and characteristics of a spatial control system of the refueling device; sending the steering commands to the spatial control system; whereby at the engagement enabling position, the boom member of the refueling device is capable of engaging with the fuel receptacle to enable refueling of the receiver aircraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.