Relative navigation for aerial refueling of an unmanned aerial vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for aerial refueling an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising in combination:
- calculating a plurality of relative navigation solutions between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a tanker aircraft;
comparing the plurality of relative navigation solutions to identify relative navigation solutions that are within a threshold value of each other; and
navigating the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the tanker aircraft using the relative navigation solutions that are within the threshold value of each other.
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Abstract
A method and system for navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for aerial refueling is described. A system processor in the UAV receives navigation data from a tanker aircraft and calculates a plurality of relative navigation solutions with respect to the tanker aircraft. The system processor compares the plurality of relative navigation solutions to identify any inconsistent solutions. The inconsistent solutions are discarded and the system processor navigates the UAV in position for refueling using the remaining relative navigation solutions.
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20 Claims
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1. A method for aerial refueling an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising in combination:
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calculating a plurality of relative navigation solutions between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a tanker aircraft; comparing the plurality of relative navigation solutions to identify relative navigation solutions that are within a threshold value of each other; and navigating the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the tanker aircraft using the relative navigation solutions that are within the threshold value of each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle relative to a tanker aircraft, comprising in combination:
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a processor; data storage; and machine language instructions stored in the data storage executable by the processor to; calculate a plurality of relative navigation solutions between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a tanker aircraft; compare the plurality of relative navigation solutions to identify relative navigation solutions that are within a threshold value of each other; and navigate the unmanned aerial vehicle with respect to the tanker aircraft using the relative navigation solutions that are within the threshold value of each other.
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13. A system comprising in combination:
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an Inertial Navigation System; a Global Positioning System; and a system processor that receives data from the Inertial Navigation System, the Global Positioning System, and a tanker aircraft, wherein the system processor calculates a plurality of relative navigation solutions between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the tanker aircraft based on the received data, wherein the system processor compares the plurality of navigation solutions to detect whether any of the plurality of relative navigation solutions is inconsistent with the other solutions, and wherein the system processor uses consistency information obtained from the comparison to form a protection level for the plurality of relative navigation solutions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification