Another step in UAV development.

Big-E

Banned Member
I'm not sure how you use GPS to line up to the Texaco. The drag on the hose would make that impracticle. You can't read that from space.
 

rjmaz1

New Member
The linkup would not be done via GPS.

Just like motion capturing for 3d animation a camera would track the movement of the hose and control the aircraft better than any human.

Finding the tanker and getting into position would be done via GPS though.
 

scraw

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5
rjmaz1 said:
The linkup would not be done via GPS.

Just like motion capturing for 3d animation a camera would track the movement of the hose and control the aircraft better than any human.

Finding the tanker and getting into position would be done via GPS though.
Yep, from the press release:

The Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration (AARD) system used GPS-based relative navigation, coupled with an optical tracker, to provide the precise positioning required to put a refueling probe into the center of a 32-inch basket dangling in the air stream behind an airborne tanker.
 
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