Aircraft Modification With SAAR for Stabilized Aerial Refueling
Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial refueling (AR) aircraft are expensive, scarce, and their missions demand significant fuel transfer, leading to high operational costs and training challenges, exacerbated by insufficient government funding and pilot training deficiencies, necessitating the use of civilian tankers.
Innovation Solution
Modify low-cost attritable aircraft (LCAA) with a Selectively-Autonomous Aerial Refueling (SAAR) system, including a fuselage assembly, dual-drum hose and guidetube management, fuel transfer and management subsystems, and AI/ML software, to enable safe, efficient, and automated AR operations, even without fuel transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional AR tankers are used to perform aerial refueling missions, then fuel transfer capability and mission effectiveness are improved, but operational cost and equipment expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft (LCAA) as disposable or semi-disposable platforms to perform aerial refueling missions. These aircraft are significantly cheaper than conventional tankers, allowing the military to afford multiple sorties and address the shortage of AR tankers. The LCAA can be economically replaced if lost, reducing the operational cost barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a Buddy Store system that can be attached to various LCAA platforms, effectively creating a copyable refueling capability across different aircraft types. This modular approach allows the refueling function to be replicated on inexpensive platforms rather than relying on a few expensive dedicated tanker aircraft.
2Loss of energy
If LCAA are modified with SAAR system to reduce cost, then operational expense decreases, but system complexity and modification difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SAAR system is divided into modular components: Buddy Store attachment system, dual-drum hose management subsystem, extensible guidetube subsystem, and AI/ML software suite. Each module can be independently developed, tested, and installed, reducing the overall modification complexity despite the advanced capabilities provided.
Solution Approach 2:
The Buddy Store system is designed to be attachable to various LCAA platforms, creating a universal refueling solution. The same core subsystems (hose management, guidetube, fuel transfer) can be integrated across different aircraft types, reducing per-platform modification complexity through standardized interfaces and procedures.
3Manufacturing precision
If dual-drum hose and guidetube management subsystem is installed in LCAA, then refueling hose deployment precision and stabilized AR presentations are improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-drum hose management subsystem stores the refueling hose in a compact, nested configuration within the Buddy Store. The hose is wound on drums that can be retracted into the fuselage, and the extensible guidetube can be stowed within the aircraft body when not in use. This nesting approach minimizes the space occupied by these precision deployment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose management system uses dynamic deployment mechanisms where the hose and guidetube can be extended or retracted as needed. The dual-drum system allows precise control of hose payout during refueling operations, providing stabilized presentations to receiver aircraft while only occupying minimal stowage space when retracted.
Data Source
AI summary
Aircraft modification system for transforming an aircraft (that includes an aircraft fuselage, aircraft flight control surfaces, and aircraft subsystems). The aircraft modification system includes and operatively integrates a plurality of systems that “inspirit” the aircraft with new, enhanced, and/or optimized capabilities. The aircraft modification system includes an aerial refueling system (ARS), a new refueling system, and interface subsystems. The interface subsystems include structural support or reinforcement components and operative interconnection systems. The aircraft modification system also: includes one or more aerial refueling (AR) apparatuses, a new center-of-gravity (CG) subsystem configured to control movement of fuel between, to and from a plurality of fuel tanks to manage and control aircraft center-of-gravity (CG), and a new flight control system (FCS) configured to control the aircraft flight control surfaces; and manages and controls the CG and the aircraft flight control surfaces in coordination for providing flight performance capabilities and selectively stabilized AR presentations.