DARPA Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration Program With Initial Results

J. Hansen, G. Romrell, N. Nabaa, R. Andersen, L. Myers, J. McCormick

Abstract:	This paper provides descriptions of the demonstrated technologies, including relative GPS using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) processing algorithms, inertial systems and video tracking. It also includes the initial results from the AARD program flight testing that began in May 2006 and completed in the summer of 2006 with flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The flight tests used a NASA DFRC F/A-18 as a surrogate UAV and an Omega Air tanker with a hose and drogue refueling system. The paper describes the demonstration concept of operations, which begins with the surrogate UAV aircraft in a trail position, approximately 100 feet behind the tanker drogue. The minimum final objective is for the surrogate UAV to demonstrate a fully automatic engagement of the probe plugging the drogue between the F/A-18 and the Omega Air B707 tanker using the AARD system. During the demonstration the F/A-18 automatically holds contact between the probe and drogue to simulate a complete refueling sequence, which takes 5 minutes, and then disconnects and backs out to the trail position. The paper also describes the SNC AARD Tanker pallet electronics, including a GPS receiver, inertial system, data link, navigation processing and a user interface and the addition of both a GPS and a data link antenna. The surrogate “receiver” aircraft avionics is described, including the SNC AARD Controller equipment, consisting of a GPS receiver, inertial system, data link, an Octec, Ltd. video tracker function, navigation processing and guidance and control processing. The AARD Controller interfaces through a NASA DFRC multiplexer function (AMUX) to the F/A-18 flight control computers. A DFRC Pilot Vehicle Interface provides pilot inputs to initiate the AARD functions. The initial flight tests were performed using a Flight Research, Inc. Sabreliner 60 aircraft as a surrogate tanker. Final flight tests and demonstration of full autonomous airborne refueling used the Omega Air B707 with a standard hose and drogue refueling system. These flight testing results represent the first-ever demonstration of autonomous in-flight refueling compatible with existing probe-and-drogue systems.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2006) September 26 - 29, 2006 Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX
Pages:	674 - 685
Cite this article:	Hansen, J., Romrell, G., Nabaa, N., Andersen, R., Myers, L., McCormick, J., "DARPA Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration Program With Initial Results," Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2006), Fort Worth, TX, September 2006, pp. 674-685.
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