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:
Oct. 04, 2016
Filed:
May. 09, 2012
Ohad Rix, Nes Ziona, IL;
Ohad Rix, Nes Ziona, IL;
ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod, IL;
Abstract
A method for controlling in-flight refueling of a receiver aircraft having a fuel receptacle, comprising: automatically steering a refueling device to an engagement enabling position, including: repeatedly determining a spatial disposition of the refueling device with respect to the receiver aircraft, the refueling device being capable of engaging and refueling the receiver aircraft via a boom member, when the device arrives to the engagement enabling position at which the boom member is in a predetermined spaced and spatial relationship with respect to the fuel receptacle of the receiver aircraft; repeatedly calculating steering commands based at least on the repeatedly determined spatial dispositions and characteristics of a spatial control system of the refueling device; sending the steering commands to the spatial control system; whereby at the engagement enabling position, the boom member of the refueling device is capable of engaging with the fuel receptacle to enable refueling of the receiver aircraft.