Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: 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.