Refueling Boom Load Alleviation via Force Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current refueling boom systems face challenges with load alleviation, leading to instability and potential breakage due to forces from misalignment and inadequate control surface trimming, and existing solutions often operate in the wrong mode at the wrong time, reducing operator control and increasing the risk of accidental strikes on the receiving aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a data processing system with a refueling control system and sensor system to continuously monitor and adjust the refueling boom's position, using force sensors and actuators to generate commands that alleviate forces and maintain stability, allowing for simultaneous operator control and automatic load alleviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a refueling boom operator manually controls the ruddevators to position the refueling boom, then the operator can directly control the boom position, but the flexibility of the refueling boom causes challenges in positioning accuracy and stability
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect boom position, contact forces, and alignment status, feeding this information back to the control system. The control system automatically adjusts ruddevator commands based on this feedback to maintain stable positioning and proper alignment with the receptacle, resolving the instability caused by boom flexibility while preserving manual control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic load alleviation system monitors boom status and autonomously makes control adjustments to alleviate loads and maintain positioning. This self-correcting mechanism handles the positioning challenges without requiring constant manual intervention, while still allowing the operator to override when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate modes are used for free-flight and coupled operation, then the system can handle different operational states, but the modes may be triggered manually causing delays and potential instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple operational modes (free-flight, contact, transition) and uses sensors to automatically detect which mode is appropriate based on current boom-receptacle status. This eliminates manual mode selection delays and ensures the correct mode is active at the right time, improving fuel transfer efficiency while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor contact forces and boom position to automatically trigger appropriate operational modes. The system transitions between modes based on real-time feedback rather than manual input, preventing delays and inadvertent strikes while maintaining versatility in handling different operational states.
3Reliability
If the automatic load alleviation system operates independently, then load reduction can be achieved, but the operator loses control during system operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges automatic load alleviation functionality with manual operator control into a unified control architecture. The automatic system operates to reduce loads on the boom, while simultaneously maintaining the operator's ability to issue commands and override automatic adjustments when necessary. This combination preserves both reliability through automatic load management and ease of operation through retained operator authority.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the refueling boom is kept flexible to allow movement, then the boom can adapt to receiver aircraft movement, but contact forces cause increased bending and instability
Solution Approach 1:
Force sensors detect contact forces between the boom and receptacle, feeding this information to the control system. The control system responds by adjusting ruddevator commands to alleviate loads and reduce boom bending, allowing the boom to remain flexible for adapting to receiver movement while maintaining stability through active load management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system generates counteracting commands to the ruddevators that oppose the contact forces causing boom bending. This active counterweight approach allows the boom to maintain its flexible, adaptive characteristics while the control system continuously applies opposing forces to prevent excessive bending and instability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method and apparatus are present for managing forces on a refueling boom (500). Force information is received from a force sensor (326) associated with the refueling boom (500). Forces on the refueling boom without a number of air loads on the refueling boom are identified to form filtered force information. A force-based command is generated using the filtered force information on the refueling boom.