DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REFUELING AIR VEHICLES

摘要

A variety of refueling devices, systems and methods are disclosed for use in in-flight refueling. In one example one such device is towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and has a boom member with a boom axis. The boom member enables fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during in-flight refueling. The device maintains a desired non-zero angular disposition between the boom axis and a forward direction at least when the refueling device is towed by the tanker aircraft in the forward direction via the fuel hose.

主权项

1. A method for controlling in-flight refueling of a receiver aircraft having a fuel receptacle, comprising:
automatically maneuvering a refueling device to an engagement enabling position, including: (i) repeatedly determining a spatial disposition of said refueling device with respect to the receiver aircraft, the refueling device being capable of engaging and refueling said receiver aircraft via a boom member, when the device arrives to said engagement enabling position at which said boom member is in a predetermined spaced and spatial relationship with respect to the fuel receptacle of said receiver aircraft; (ii) repeatedly calculating maneuvering commands based at least on the repeatedly determined spatial dispositions and characteristics of a spatial control system of the refueling device; (iii) sending said maneuvering commands to said spatial control system; whereby at said engagement enabling position, the boom member of said refueling device is capable of engaging with said fuel receptacle to enable refueling of said receiver aircraft.