The present disclosure relates to imaging processing devices, aerial refueling aircraft, and methods relating to the processing of images. An example imaging processing device includes a programmable circuit, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), that is reprogrammed based on selected circuit data so as to construct a circuit configured to provide image processing on at least one image. The image processing includes receiving the at least one image. The image processing also includes adjusting the at least one image, to provide at least one adjusted image. Adjusting the at least one image includes applying: a local adaptive histogram equalization filter, a global gamma correction filter, and a local contrast filter.

Cargo aircraft having a cargo ramp and cargo door oppositely hinged relative to one another to allow access to the aircraft's cargo space may be provided with a flying boom mast that is physically mounted at the aft portion of the fuselage so as to configure such cargo aircraft for aerial refueling operations. The flying boom mast may therefore be operably associated with the aft portion of the fuselage and moveable between a stowed and deployed conditions relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, while a fuel supply line fluid-interconnects the flying boom mast with an on-board fuel supply of the aircraft so as to allow aerial refueling of a receiver aircraft when the flying boom mast is in the deployed condition thereof.

Cargo aircraft having a cargo ramp and cargo door oppositely hinged relative to one another to allow access to the aircraft's cargo space may be provided with a flying boom mast that is physically mounted at the aft portion of the fuselage so as to configure such cargo aircraft for aerial refueling operations. The flying boom mast may therefore be operably associated with the aft portion of the fuselage and moveable between a stowed and deployed conditions relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, while a fuel supply line fluid-interconnects the flying boom mast with an on-board fuel supply of the aircraft so as to allow aerial refueling of a receiver aircraft when the flying boom mast is in the deployed condition thereof.

In an example, method of dynamically suppressing background clutter in a stream of images is described. The method includes receiving a stream of images, wherein the stream of images comprises background objects and foreground objects, separating the stream of images into a first image set and a second image set, applying a grid to each image in the second image set, wherein the grid contains a plurality of grid cells, determining a movement of pixel content within each of the plurality of grid cells for each image of the second image set, extrapolating the movement of pixel content to a time of the first image set to obtain a time-adjusted second image set, and subtracting the time-adjusted second image set from the first image set to obtain a clutter-suppressed image set.

A variety of refueling devices, systems and methods are disclosed for use in in-flight refueling. In one example one such device is towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and has a boom member with a boom axis. The boom member enables fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during in-flight refueling. The device maintains a desired non-zero angular disposition between the boom axis and a forward direction at least when the refueling device is towed by the tanker aircraft in the forward direction via the fuel hose.

A variety of refueling devices, systems and methods are disclosed for use in in-flight refueling. In one example one such device is towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and has a boom member with a boom axis. The boom member enables fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during in-flight refueling. The device maintains a desired non-zero angular disposition between the boom axis and a forward direction at least when the refueling device is towed by the tanker aircraft in the forward direction via the fuel hose.

A propellant-handling module for installation in a host aircraft comprises: a motorised drum unit comprising a line and drogue for engagement with a propellant supply line of a propellant supply aircraft and for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft; a propellant inlet configured for connection with the propellant supply line; a propellant outlet in communication with the propellant inlet and configured for connection with a propellant system of the host aircraft; an electrical power unit for powering the propellant-handling module; and a communication and control system for receiving a deploy command signal and a return command signal from the supply aircraft and configured to: receive said deploy command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to deploy the line and drogue for said engagement with the propellant supply line; and receive said return command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to return the line and drogue to the host aircraft in said engagement with the propellant supply line for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft.

The present disclosure describes a self-positioning system, a tracking beacon and a self-positioning method for a vehicle. The self-positioning system is configured to estimate an direction of arrival of a radio wave tracking beacon signal arriving at an antenna array of the vehicle from a non-stationary tracking beacon unit, estimate Euclidian distance between the self-positioning system and the tracking beacon unit by using wireless radio-frequency communication between the self-positioning system and the tracking beacon unit, and determine position data identifying a three-dimensional position of the self-positioning system with respect to tracking beacon unit on the basis of the estimates of the direction of arrival and the Euclidian distance.

A capture-and-release aircraft for capturing and releasing fixed-wing aircraft is provided. The capture-and-release aircraft comprises a frame to which is secured a set of rotor units. Each rotor unit has a rotor with a rotation axis, the rotation axes of the rotors being generally parallel. A set of aircraft engagement members is also secured to the frame that can align with a set of anchors of a fixed-wing aircraft to releasably couple with the anchors.

A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones may accommodate different UAV types, different battery types, or operate in accordance with different energy provision rules. A marker may be provided on a landing area to aid in guiding the UAV to an appropriate landing area.