AARS: A System Solution to Autonomous Aerial Refueling of Powered Munitions

Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) of powered munitions can enable persistent loitering and provide significant benefits to future warfighters. The technology has immediate commercial applications and the feasibility of AAR for small unmanned vehicles has been successfully demonstrated in the Phase I project. A total system solution to AAR has been conceived that includes a precision relative navigation sensor system, an Intelligent Supervisory Controller, the engagement and fuel transfer hardware, and a receiver vehicle control scheme which together comprise the Autonomous Aerial Refueling System (AARS). The Phase I project has rapidly matured the AAR technology by leveraging the skills and dedication of a team that includes Sargent Fletcher, Texas A&M University, Boeing and StarVision Technologies, Inc. During the Phase I effort a novel supervisory controller was developed and tested that will govern the refueling operation between two unmanned vehicles. A high fidelity simulation tool was developed to predict in-flight behavior and an innovative technique for conducting low-cost flight experiments was fabricated and tested. Initial flight experiments in environments relevant to the intended use have begun.