Optical Tracking System for Aerial Refueling Drogue Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The refueling drogue and hose combination in aerial refueling systems experience significant dynamic movement due to wind gusts and turbulence, making it difficult to maintain the position of the drogue relative to the refueling aircraft, which complicates the insertion of the refueling probe into the drogue.
Innovation Solution
A drogue positioning system utilizing a radiation emitter, receiver, and signal processor to emit and receive modulated optical beams, allowing the system to determine the drogue's position within a defined area and maintain its station relative to the refueling aircraft by adjusting the position of the drogue assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drogue is extended from the refueling aircraft, then the refueling operation can be performed, but the drogue moves significantly due to wind gusts and turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an optical tracking system with radiation emitters and receivers to continuously monitor drogue position and provides feedback signals to control surfaces on the drogue assembly, enabling real-time position correction and stabilization
Solution Approach 2:
Control surfaces mounted on the drogue assembly act as intermediaries between the optical tracking system and the aerodynamic forces, allowing the system to counteract wind and turbulence effects by adjusting the drogue's orientation and position
2Stability of the object's composition
If the drogue is made more stable against wind and turbulence, then probe insertion becomes easier, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical stabilization mechanisms with an optical tracking and control system that uses radiation emitters, receivers, and signal processing to achieve drogue position stabilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the drogue by introducing control surfaces that can dynamically adjust the drogue's aerodynamic characteristics in response to optical tracking feedback, enabling active stabilization
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
The system effectively reduces the movement of the drogue caused by wind and turbulence, improving the ease and accuracy of probe insertion by maintaining the drogue's position relative to the refueling aircraft, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the aerial refueling process.
Implementation Method 1
the radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal
Implementation Method 2
the radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial refueling system including a refueling drogue assembly including a refueling drogue and a refueling hose in captive relation with the refueling drogue and a drogue positioning system. The drogue positioning system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor. Then the radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal containing information corresponding to positions within the positioning area. The radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the received radiation. And the signal processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a position within the positioning area indicative of the location in the positioning area of the received radiation.