The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 2004
Filed:
May. 10, 2002
German von Thal, Aliso Viejo, CA (US);
Gregory Allen Roberts, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
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.