Optical Boom-End Positioning for Automatic Aerial Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-flight refueling systems rely heavily on manual operations, lacking semi-automatic or automatic capabilities to accurately position the boom's end and the receiving aircraft's vessel, which limits safety, precision, and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising light emitters, cameras, and processing means on both the tanker and receiving aircraft to determine the precise position and inclination of the boom's end and the vessel's mouth relative to a common coordinate system, enabling semi-automatic or automatic refueling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual refueling operations are used with operator expertise, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but precision and safety are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning operations with an automated optical-mechanical positioning system. Light emitters (optical elements) are installed on the boom and receiving aircraft, and cameras capture their positions to calculate spatial coordinates automatically, substituting operator manual positioning with automated optical measurement and calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of the boom and receiving aircraft positions through camera systems. By capturing light from emitters on both platforms and processing these optical copies through coordinate transformation algorithms, the system determines precise spatial positions without direct mechanical contact or manual measurement.
2Reliability
If automated positioning systems are implemented, then precision and safety improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the positioning system continuously captures positions of light emitters on the boom and receiving aircraft, calculates their spatial coordinates in real-time, and provides this information back to the control system. This closed-loop feedback enables automatic adjustment and maintains high reliability during refueling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system serves multiple functions: it determines the position of the boom, locates the receiving aircraft, calculates relative spatial relationships, and provides data for both guidance and control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, thereby limiting overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If light emitters and cameras are used for positioning, then measurement precision improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light emitters that emit specific wavelengths of light visible to the camera sensors. By utilizing optical properties and wavelength-specific detection, the system achieves precise position measurement with relatively low energy consumption compared to other active sensing methods, as the emitters only need to be bright enough for camera detection rather than producing high-power signals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety, precision, and robustness by allowing semi-automatic or automatic refueling, reducing dependence on operator expertise and improving the accuracy of boom placement and vessel alignment.
Implementation Method 1
A system comprising light emitters, cameras, and processing means on both the tanker and receiving aircraft to determine the precise position and inclination
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a position-finding system comprising Means for Locating the position of the Receiver, and Means for Locating the position of the end of the Boom, which allow the positions and inclines thereof in relation to a common coordinates system to be determined exactly and therefore allow the possibility of approach by automatic means if the laws that govern both, that is the Boom and the receiver aircraft, are appropriately designed and based on said information supplied by the invention for the final approach thereof and contact. The means for locating the position of the receiver can consist of a series of LEDs, lasers or light emitters arranged on the receiver aircraft, combined with the cameras arranged on the tanker aircraft, or a ToF camera, or a laser illuminator with a DOE lens. The invention also relates to a position-finding device comprising light emitters, at least two cameras, a light sensor and an electronic one, such that when the first elements (emitters) are placed on the tanker and the others on the receiver, they allow, in addition to the position-finding, the approaching of the receiver towards the tanker.