Autonomous Refueling Hose End Unit for Universal Aircraft Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-flight refueling systems are incompatible between different military forces, requiring costly modifications to receiver aircraft to accommodate different tanker aircraft types, limiting inter-force operability.
Innovation Solution
A refueling hose end unit with adjustable control surfaces and an autonomous flight control system that can autonomously fly into contact with receiver aircraft, allowing refueling by any type of tanker aircraft with minimal modifications to the receiver aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing drogue systems are used for in-flight refueling, then refueling of receiver aircraft is enabled, but compatibility between different military forces is lost and costly modifications to receiver aircraft are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the receiver aircraft to accommodate different tanker types, the invention inverts the approach by making the tanker's drogue system adaptable to different receiver types. The refueling hose end unit can be configured with different coupling mechanisms (probe-receiving or boom-style) to match the specific receiver aircraft, eliminating the need to modify receiver aircraft while maintaining compatibility across different military forces
Solution Approach 2:
The refueling hose end unit is designed with multi-functionality to serve both probe-type and boom-type receiver aircraft. By incorporating adjustable control surfaces and interchangeable coupling configurations, a single tanker aircraft platform can refuel various receiver aircraft types without requiring separate specialized systems for each military force
2Adaptability or versatility
If probe configurations are fitted to USAF aircraft to accommodate foreign tanker aircraft, then inter-force operability is improved, but costs increase significantly due to modifying 25 times more receiver aircraft than tanker aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reverses the cost-effective approach by modifying the tanker side rather than the receiver side. Instead of equipping all receiver aircraft with probe configurations (which would require modifying 25 times more aircraft), the tanker's refueling hose end unit is made configurable to match different receiver types, dramatically reducing the number of modifications needed while achieving the same inter-force operability
3Ease of operation
If autonomous flight control is implemented for the refueling hose end unit, then the system can fly into contact with receiver aircraft automatically, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refueling hose end unit is equipped with autonomous flight control capabilities that enable it to self-navigate and self-contact with the receiver aircraft without requiring complex manual coordination. The control surfaces (adjustable wings or winglets) work autonomously under flight control computer guidance to achieve contact, reducing the operational burden on pilots while the system manages its own positioning and contact execution
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous in-flight refueling hose end unit includes a first end, a second end remote from the first end, one or more adjustable control surfaces and a flight control computer. The first end is configured to be coupled to a fuel hose of a tanker aircraft. The second end is configured to be coupled to receiver aircraft. The one or more adjustable control surfaces are adapted to fly the refueling hose end unit into contact with the receiver aircraft. The flight control computer autonomously controls the control surfaces to fly the refueling hose end into contact with the receiver aircraft. In some embodiments, the control interfaces include two wings or winglets and the second end includes a detachable boom or a detachable basket.