The Boeing Company

German Von Thal

Gregory Allen Roberts

Harry Wilbert Slusher

Ronald G Benjamin

Stephen M Stecko

Gregory A Roberts

A refueling system and method for use with a refueling tanker aircraft. The system and method involves the use of a camera system to provide imaging information concerning a receiver aircraft to the processor. The processor uses the imaging information to derive closure rate and distance information for the receiver aircraft as it approaches a refueling envelope prior to contact with a refueling boom. The processor also makes use of information from a look-up table to generate commands that are tailored to the specific type of aircraft being refueled. The commands are applied to a pilot's director lights display that generates visual commands or signals (e.g., 'UP', 'DOWN', &#x201c;LEFT&#x201d;, &#x201c;RIGHT&#x201d;) that assist the pilot of the receiver aircraft in guiding his/her aircraft toward and into the refueling envelope at a desired closure rate. The system and method eliminates potential error in the pre-contact phase of a refueling operation by eliminating judgment decisions by a boom operator when generating the commands for the pilot's director lights display.

System and method for facilitating aerial refueling

An device, method, and aircraft are provided for illuminating an in-flight operation, the device, method, and aircraft generating an electromagnetic radiation within the far-violet and ultraviolet spectrum, and thus being imperceptible to the naked eye, compatible with night vision equipment, and undetectable by night vision equipment.

Device, method, and aircraft for illuminating in-flight operations

Methods and apparatus for digitally enhancing images are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing an acquired image to provide a high sensitive low light image and a low sensitive high light image, and then summing the high sensitive low light image and the low sensitive high light image to create an enhanced image.

Image enhancement for aerial refueling operations

Methods and apparatus for digitally enhancing images are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes performing a wavelet transformation process on an acquired image to provide a low pass spatial frequency. A dynamic range and a mixing value are then determined from the low pass spatial frequency, and the mixing value is applied to provide a transformed output image. The transformed output image is then reformatted to provide a mixed output image, and the mixed output image is subtracted from the acquired image to provide an enhanced image. In an alternate embodiment, a method includes analyzing an acquired image to provide a high sensitive low light image and a low sensitive high light image, and then summing the high sensitive low light image and the low sensitive high light image to create an enhanced image.

Methods and apparatus for enhanced viewing of aerial refueling operations

A vision system and method for use on a refueling tanker to assist a boom operator in performing an airborne refueling operation on a receiver aircraft. The system includes a digital camera system, a sensor subsystem and a processing system that receives information from the sensor system and the camera system. The processing system includes video processing capability and a graphics generator that generates a two dimensional graphics symbology set that is displayed on a display terminal along with a real time image of the boom and the receiver aircraft. The graphics symbology set includes a plurality of graphic symbols that indicate the position of the refueling boom and the position of the receiver aircraft relative to a desired contact zone within which physical contact between the boom tip and a refueling receptacle on the receiver aircraft can be made. The graphics symbology set also makes use of various colors to indicate warning conditions to the boom operator.

Vision system and method incorporating graphics symbology for use in a tanker refueling system

Graphical symbology apparatus for use in an airborne refueling system

An in-flight refueling system, boom, and method are provided for extending the range of motion of an in-flight refueling boom carried by a first aircraft so as to facilitate an in-flight refueling operation between the first and the second aircraft. More specifically, in some embodiments the present invention provides a rotating device, operably engaged with at least one airfoil, and configured to substantially surround and rotate about the in-flight refueling boom such that the rotating device and the at least one airfoil operably engaged therewith, may be actuated so as to extend the range of motion of the in-flight refueling boom.

In-flight refueling system, boom, and method for extending range of motion of an in-flight refueling boom

An apparatus and method for detecting and correcting for physical misalignments of a pair of digital cameras creating a composite, three dimensional (3D) image of a target. The method involves using the distances from each of a pair of digital cameras to a target and determining correction offset values for one or the other of the images produced in the digital cameras to achieve pixel-to-pixel coincidence of the two images. The correction offset values are calculated and performed in real time and eliminate the need to physically remove a common platform on which the cameras are mounted from a mobile platform or other support structure, and to transport same to a laboratory environment for the needed calibration. Advantageously, the correction values are generated electronically and applied in real time as any misalignment between the cameras is sensed.

Method and apparatus for aligning a pair of digital cameras forming a three dimensional image to compensate for a physical misalignment of cameras

An in-flight refueling system and method are provided to extend and retract an in-flight refueling device between a stowed position and an extended position relative to a tanker aircraft. The system and method of the present invention provide an induction device configured to extend and retract the in-flight refueling device such that the in-flight refueling system requires less maintenance and may be packaged in a compact, low-profile arrangement so that the in-flight refueling system may be carried by a variety of tanker aircraft in a variety of different configurations.

In-flight refueling system and method for extending and retracting an in-flight refueling device

Apparatus and methods for covertly determining the rate of motion between a pixel-based imaging device and a target being viewed by the pixel-based imaging device. The method involves using the pixel-based imaging device to acquire a first and a second digital image of the target. The second digital image is acquired a time interval after the first digital image. The time interval and pixel counts for the pixel set within the first and the second digital image representing a particular portion of the target are then used to determine a rate of relative motion between the pixel-based imaging device and the target. Advantageously, the rate of relative motion is determined covertly such that the locations of the pixel-based imaging device and the target are not disclosed or broadcast to third parties.

Method and apparatus for covertly determining the rate of relative motion between two objects

An in-flight refueling system, sensor system and method are provided for detecting and damping changes in the disposition of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile sensor device that may be fitted to the elongate hose so as to detect oscillations in the elongate hose and transmit a signal to a hose retracting device carried by the tanker aircraft such that the hose retracting device retracts the elongate hose in response to the signal so as to counteract the occurrence of oscillations within the elongate hose. Thus, these embodiments may minimize the effect of oscillations in the elongate hose by selectively retracting the elongate hose in response to oscillations detected therein as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.

In-flight refueling system, sensor system and method for damping oscillations in in-flight refueling system components

An aircraft refueling boom load alleviation system uses received light to detect boom displacement and generates a control signal to correct the displacement. Both a set of flight surfaces and a plurality of light imageable targeting sights are disposed on a refueling tube. At least one digital camera converts the light imageable shape of each of the targeting sights to individual pixel images. The pixel images converted by the digital camera are input to a computer system. The computer system recognizes either a displacement of pixel images or a quantity change of pixels between pixel images as a displacement of the refueling tube. The computer system calculates the displacement of any of the pixel images. A signal is generated to control the refueling tube flight surfaces to correct the displacement.

Boom load alleviation using visual means

An aircraft distance measuring system analyzes images from at least one camera using a known refueling boom length and boom nozzle location to identify a distance between the boom nozzle and a receiving aircraft refueling receptacle. Existing sensors identify boom extended length and angle. The refueling boom and camera connection points on the refueling aircraft provide reference points. Each camera takes a plurality of images of the boom nozzle and the refueling receptacle which are converted to pixel images. A plurality of different aircraft are stored as wire-models in a computer. The computer compares the receiving aircraft image to the wire-model images and a receiving aircraft type having a known refueling receptacle position is selected. The computer continuously uses the camera images and analyzes for position, range and aspect to continuously calculate (i.e., update) the distance between the boom nozzle and the receiving aircraft refueling receptacle.

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Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

German Von Thal