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

StarVision Technologies proposes to conduct an experimental feasibility assessment of an innovative and robust Autonomous Aerial Refueling System (AARS). The system has been developed specifically for powered munitions and will provide significant battlefield enhancements by allowing persistent and sustained air operations. The AARS proposed is the result of several years of studies and feasibility assessments and includes a novel vision-based relative navigation sensor, an Intelligent Supervisory Control system and customized refueling hardware. Leveraging prior feasibility assessments, the proposed Phase I effort will include an innovative flight experiment including the critical components of the AARS, a Boeing-donated vehicle and ground support contributions from the Texas A&M University's Flight Mechanics Lab. The proposed Phase I flight experiment will help benchmark a high fidelity simulation model of the AARS with a powered munition. The flight experiment will address key feasibility issues and mitigate risks of conducting a Phase II aircraft-to-aircraft demonstration of the AARS in a relevant environment.