초록 ▼

A vision system and method for use on a refueling tanker to assist a boom operator in performing an airborne refueling operation on a receiver aircraft. The system includes a digital camera system, a sensor subsystem and a processing system that receives information from the sensor system and the ca

A vision system and method for use on a refueling tanker to assist a boom operator in performing an airborne refueling operation on a receiver aircraft. The system includes a digital camera system, a sensor subsystem and a processing system that receives information from the sensor system and the camera system. The processing system includes video processing capability and a graphics generator that generates a two dimensional graphics symbology set that is displayed on a display terminal along with a real time image of the boom and the receiver aircraft. The graphics symbology set includes a plurality of graphic symbols that indicate the position of the refueling boom and the position of the receiver aircraft relative to a desired contact zone within which physical contact between the boom tip and a refueling receptacle on the receiver aircraft can be made. The graphics symbology set also makes use of various colors to indicate warning conditions to the boom operator.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A graphical symbol apparatus for use on a display system used by an operator in an aerial refueling operation between an airborne tanker vehicle and an airborne receiver vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a receiver graphic representing said receiver vehicle and moveable in a

What is claimed is: 1. A graphical symbol apparatus for use on a display system used by an operator in an aerial refueling operation between an airborne tanker vehicle and an airborne receiver vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a receiver graphic representing said receiver vehicle and moveable in accordance with a position of said receiver vehicle; a boom graphic having a length that changes and is scaled in accordance with telescoping movement of a refueling boom; a contact zone graphic indicating an area in which contact can be made between said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle; and said receiver graphic and said boom graphic providing a visual representation of when said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle are in position for contact to be made between said refueling boom and a refueling receptacle of said receiving vehicle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiver vehicle graphic is moveable linearly towards and away from said boom graphic, and scaled in accordance with a closing rate of said receiver vehicle. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said boom graphic, said contact zone graphic and said receiver vehicle graphic are linearly aligned on said display. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a foundation graphic within which said contact zone graphic is disposed, the foundation graphic representing lead-in areas fore and aft of said contact zone. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elevation graphic, moveable in relation to said receiver vehicle graphic, for representing a desired elevation that said receiver vehicle needs to be at before contact can be made between said refueling boom and said refueling receptacle. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said elevation graphic comprises a dashed line movable towards and away from an edge portion of said receiver vehicle graphic, said elevation graphic being generally coplanar with said edge portion when said receiver vehicle is at an elevation at which contact between said refueling boom and said receiver receptacle can be made. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said boom graphic and said receiver vehicle graphic are different colors. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said contact zone graphic is a different color from said boom graphic and said receiver vehicle graphic. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiver vehicle graphic is presented as a flashing symbol when a closing rate of speed of said receiver vehicle toward said refueling vehicle exceeds a predetermined safe closing rate of speed. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a boom aim graphic that is overlayed on said display to indicate where on said receiver vehicle a tip of said boom would contact if said tip was telescoped into contact with said receiver vehicle. 11. A graphical symbol apparatus for use on a display system used by an operator in an aerial refueling operation between an airborne tanker vehicle and an airborne receiver vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a contact zone graphic representing a desired contact zone within which contact between a refueling boom of said refueling vehicle and a refueling receptacle of said refueling vehicle can be made; a receiver graphic representing said receiver vehicle and moveable in accordance with a position of said receiver vehicle, said movement of said receiver graphic further being scaled in accordance with a sensed speed of said receiver vehicle; a boom graphic modified in accordance with telescoping movement of said refueling boom; and said receiver graphic and said boom graphic providing a visual representation of when said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle are in position within said contact zone for contact to be made between said refueling boom and said refueling receptacle; and wherein an edge portion of said receiver graphic contacts an edge portion of said boom graphic when a tip of said refueling boom has made contact with a refueling receptacle of said receiver vehicle. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a foundation graphic within which said contact zone graphic is disposed, the foundation graphic including an elongated area representing lead-in areas fore and aft of said contact zone to further apprise a boom operator of relative positions of said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle before said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle enter said contact zone. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, further wherein a length of said boom graphic is modified in accordance with telescoping movement of said boom towards said contact zone. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said receiver graphic is caused to become a flashing graphic when a closing speed of said receiver vehicle toward said contact zone exceeds a maximum predetermined closing speed. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said contact zone graphic, said receiver graphic and said boom graphic are all different colors. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an elevation lead in graphic for representing a desired elevation of said receiver vehicle before contact between said refueling boom and said refueling receptacle is attempted, said elevation lead in graphic being aligned with an edge of said receiver graphic when said receiver vehicle is at said desired elevation. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first portion of said receiver graphic is presented in a first color, and a second portion of said receiver graphic is presented in a second color different from said first color, when said refueling boom is in contact with said refueling receptacle but while said receiver vehicle has moved forwardly, relative to said airborne tanker vehicle, to move said refueling boom partially out of said contact zone. 18. A graphical symbol apparatus for use on a display system used by an operator in an aerial refueling operation between an airborne tanker vehicle and an airborne receiver vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a contact zone graphic representing a desired contact zone, relative to said refueling vehicle, within which contact between a refueling boom of said refueling vehicle and a refueling receptacle of said refueling vehicle can be made; a receiver graphic representing said receiver vehicle and moveable linearly in accordance with a position of said receiver vehicle, relative to said contact zone, said movement of said receiver graphic further being scaled in accordance with a sensed speed of said receiver vehicle; a boom graphic scaled in dimension in accordance with telescoping movement of said refueling boom and linearly aligned with said contact zone graphic; said receiver graphic and said boom graphic providing a visual representation of when said refueling boom and said receiver vehicle are in position within said contact zone for contact to be made between said refueling boom and said refueling receptacle; and wherein contact between an edge portion of said receiver graphic and an edge portion of said boom graphic indicates that said refueling boom has made contact with said refueling receptacle of said receiver vehicle.