The Boeing Company

Jeffrey Lee Musgrave

Justin Cleve Hatcher

Jung Soon Jang

Kimberly Ann Hinson

Richard Golob

Richard Donovan Jones

Thomas Edward Speer

Stephen M Stecko

Thomas E Speer

Tyler Martin Anderson

A system for detecting a sensor fault of an aerial refueling boom. The system comprises a data collector configured to receive sensor data from a plurality of sensors and determine an aerial refueling boom elevation angle of the aerial refueling boom based on the sensor data, wherein the sensor data comprises at least one of cable length data, a dynamic pressure data or aerial refueling boom position data. The system further comprises a processing unit configured access a database table in a storage unit to determine an estimated aerial refueling boom elevation angle, a comparator configured to compare the estimated aerial refueling boom elevation angle to the determined aerial refueling boom elevation angle, and a fault detector configured to generate a sensor fault signal based on the comparison.

Boom elevation estimation using hoist cable system

An aerial refueling boom elevation estimation ('ARBEE') system for estimating an elevation angle of an aerial refueling boom on an aerial refueling aircraft is described. The ARBEE system may include a data collector, storage unit, optimizer, and comparator.

Aerial refueling boom elevation estimation system

A control system for an aircraft refueling boom controls the movements of the boom in certain areas in a total field of movement volume of possible boom movements based on the location of the boom in the total field of movement volume and based on the current rate of movement of the boom in the total field of movement volume.

Aircraft refueling boom soft limits control

Aircraft refueling boom soft limits system

An apparatus comprising a refueling controller. The refueling controller is configured to receive a number of operator commands for moving a refueling boom on a tanker aircraft in a desired direction. The number of operator commands defines at least one of an azimuth movement and an elevation movement of the refueling boom during flight of the tanker aircraft. The refueling controller is further configured to generate a number of intermediate commands for moving the refueling boom in the desired direction as defined by the number of operator commands. The number of intermediate commands defines at least one of a roll movement and a pitch movement such that the refueling boom moves in the desired direction.

Refueling boom control system

A method and apparatus comprising a refueling controller. The refueling controller is configured to receive a number of operator commands for moving a refueling boom on a tanker aircraft in a desired direction. The number of operator commands defines at least one of an azimuth movement and an elevation movement of the refueling boom during flight of the tanker aircraft. The refueling controller is further configured to generate a number of intermediate commands for moving the refueling boom in the desired direction as defined by the number of operator commands. The number of intermediate commands defines at least one of a roll movement and a pitch movement such that the refueling boom moves in the desired direction.

A method, apparatus and system are provided for facilitating aerial refueling by controlling a refueling drogue. In this regard, a respective error for at least one state associated with a hose or a drogue is provided, along with an indication of a current state of the drogue. An actuator command is then determined based upon the current state of the drogue, the respective error for at least one state associated with the hose or the drogue, and a current command that has been previously issued to the actuator. A command, that is, an updated command, may then be issued to the actuator carried by the drogue in order to reduce or eliminate the state error(s).

Method and apparatus for controlling a refueling drogue

A method and computer program product are provided for controlling the control effectors of an aerodynamic vehicle including, for example, the respective positions of nozzles and aerodynamic surfaces, to affect a desired change in the time rate of change of the system state vector. The method initially determines differences between anticipated changes in the states of the aerodynamic vehicle based upon the current state of each control effector, and desired state changes. These differences may be weighted based upon a predetermined criteria, such as the importance of the respective states and/or the weight to be attributed to outliers. The differences between the anticipated and desired state changes are converted to the corresponding rates of change of the control effectors. Control signals are then issued to the control effectors to affect the desired change in the time rate of change of the system state vector.

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey Lee Musgrave