Controllable hose-and-drogue in-flight refueling system

摘要

An in-flight hose-and-drogue refueling system has the capability of steering the drogue using four thrusters which are energized by pressurized air. The system measures the drogue's 3-dimensional position relative to either the refueling aircraft or the probe on the receiver aircraft. A control system utilizes the measurements of the drogue's 3-dimensional position to activate the thrusters so as to either minimize the excursions of the drogue due to turbulence, thus enabling easier hook-up, or alternatively, to track the receiver's probe and automatically guide and contact the drogue to the probe.