Apparatus suitable for use in orienting aircraft in-flight for r

Details Apparatus suitable for use in orienting aircraft in-flight for r Apparatus suitable for use in orienting aircraft in-flight for r

1975-02-18

1977-05-24

Tubbesing, T.H.

Optics: measuring and testing

Range or remote distance finding

With photodetection

244194, 244135A, 356152, G01C 300, G01B 1126

Patent

active

040251934

ABSTRACT:
A modulated light beam is projected from a transmitter aircraft toward a receiver aircraft and reflected back toward the receiver aircraft by a retroreflector mounted on the receiver aircraft. The reflected light beam is received by the transmitter aircraft and is focused onto the face of an image dissector tube. The location of the reflected light beam on the face of the tube defines the position of the receiver aircraft in azimuth and elevation with respect to the position of the transmitter aircraft. The range difference between the two aircraft is determined by phase comparing the transmitted light beam with the received light beam. When used for in-flight refueling, further retroreflectors are mounted on a refueling boom and a similar technique is used to determine the exact location of the boom and its associated refueling nozzle. The resultant information is processed by a digital computer and used to either automatically orient the two aircraft, and the boom and nozzle, or create a display(s) suitable for use by one or both aircraft pilots, and the boom operator, to orient the two aircraft, and the boom and nozzle.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2993997 (1961-07-01), McFarlane
patent: 3087986 (1963-04-01), De Brosse
patent: 3285544 (1966-11-01), Chope et al.
patent: 3504182 (1970-03-01), Pizzurro et al.
patent: 3620626 (1971-11-01), Daly et al.
patent: 3752582 (1973-08-01), Troll et al.
patent: 3778159 (1973-12-01), Hines et al.
patent: 3854821 (1974-12-01), Thompson
patent: 3899145 (1975-08-01), Stephenson
NASA Tech. Brief, 68-10311, 8-1968.

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