Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Fuel supply
Reexamination Certificate
2005-05-10
2005-05-10
Barefoot, Galen (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Fuel supply
C244S195000, C244S003160, C244S164000, C701S226000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06889941
ABSTRACT:
An aircraft formation/refueling guidance system guides a follower aircraft relative to a leader aircraft. A datalink provides a position hold and a bias command from the leader aircraft to the follower aircraft. An optical tracker onboard the follower aircraft takes an image of the leader aircraft when receiving the hold command, tracks the leader aircraft using the image, and provides optical tracker movement outputs. A resolver resolves the optical tracker movement outputs to provide resolver control signals. A vernier control receives the bias command to change a position of the follower aircraft by biasing the resolver control signals with a bias signal. A sum circuit connected to the resolver and to the vernier control receives the resolver control signals and the bias signal to provide a sum circuit output signal. An autopilot and autothrottle receives the sum circuit output signal and the position hold command to control the follower aircraft.
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Happel Donald A.
McElreath Kenneth W.
Barefoot Galen
Eppele Kyle
Jensen Nathan O.
Rockwell Collins
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