A satellite refueling system has a refueling satellite carrying fuel, a fuel hose connected to the fuel carried by the refueling satellite, with a maneuverable end effector at a deployed end of the fuel hose, the end effector comprising a fuel supply nozzle connected to the fuel hose, a plurality of thrusters on the end effector providing thrust in a plurality of directions, an imaging device on the end effector capturing images in an immediate environment of the end effector, and computerized circuitry operating individual ones of the plurality of thrusters in response to the images captured by the imaging device. The refueling satellite deploys the fuel hose, and the computerized circuitry operates the thrusters to maneuver the end effector, bringing the fuel supply nozzle to a location to deliver fuel.

A satellite refueling system has a refueling satellite carrying fuel, a fuel hose connected to the fuel carried by the refueling satellite, with a maneuverable end effector at a deployed end of the fuel hose, the end effector comprising a fuel supply nozzle connected to the fuel hose, a plurality of thrusters on the end effector providing thrust in a plurality of directions, an imaging device on the end effector capturing images in an immediate environment of the end effector, and computerized circuitry operating individual ones of the plurality of thrusters in response to the images captured by the imaging device. The refueling satellite deploys the fuel hose, and the computerized circuitry operates the thrusters to maneuver the end effector, bringing the fuel supply nozzle to a location to deliver fuel.

A stabilizing system for a winch cable has a winch cable deployed and suspended from a helicopter, a cargo support attached at a deployed end of the winch cable, an end effector attached to the winch cable, the end effector comprising thrusters directed in a plurality of directions orthogonal to a vertical axis of the winch cable, first control circuitry in the helicopter, and second control circuitry in the end effector. Thrust of individual thrusters is controlled through the first and second control circuitry maintaining the axis of the winch cable vertical, damping swinging of the cable.

A stabilizing system for a winch cable has a winch cable deployed and suspended from a helicopter, a cargo support attached at a deployed end of the winch cable, an end effector attached to the winch cable, the end effector comprising thrusters directed in a plurality of directions orthogonal to a vertical axis of the winch cable, first control circuitry in the helicopter, and second control circuitry in the end effector. Thrust of individual thrusters is controlled through the first and second control circuitry maintaining the axis of the winch cable vertical, damping swinging of the cable.

The present invention is an Electric servo system which controls and automates gate openings based on GPS speed and position data that results in precise and reliable modern variable and constant rate application. The Electric servo system also allows for Mechanical gate linkages to remain intact, resulting in few changes to the aircraft and redundancy of emergency components. A Mechanical input connect/disconnect is used to effortlessly transfer between the automated Electric servo system and the Mechanical gate system.

An imaging system has a tether sub-system deployable and retrievable from an aircraft, an imaging device attached at a deployable end of the tether, and control apparatus comprising control and communication circuitry receiving images captured by the imaging apparatus and storing the images. The tether is deployed to a predetermined length, the aircraft is piloted in a flight pattern causing the imaging device at the deployed end of the tether to attain a fixed position proximate an imaging target, and the control apparatus is operated to capture images of the target.

An imaging system has a tether sub-system deployable and retrievable from an aircraft, an imaging device attached at a deployable end of the tether, and control apparatus comprising control and communication circuitry receiving images captured by the imaging apparatus and storing the images. The tether is deployed to a predetermined length, the aircraft is piloted in a flight pattern causing the imaging device at the deployed end of the tether to attain a fixed position proximate an imaging target, and the control apparatus is operated to capture images of the target.

A data delivery system has a tether deployable from an aircraft having a first data repository, a transmission pod at a deployed end of the tether, the transmission pod having first wireless communication circuitry, a communication conductor in parallel with the tether connecting the data repository in the aircraft with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a receiving station on ground surface having a receiving antenna, second wireless communication circuitry compatible with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a second data repository. The tether is deployed from the aircraft in a manner to position the transmission pod stationary proximate the receiving station antenna, and data is downloaded from the data repository in the aircraft to the data repository in the receiving station via the communication conductor and the wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod.

A data delivery system has a tether deployable from an aircraft having a first data repository, a transmission pod at a deployed end of the tether, the transmission pod having first wireless communication circuitry, a communication conductor in parallel with the tether connecting the data repository in the aircraft with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a receiving station on ground surface having a receiving antenna, second wireless communication circuitry compatible with the first wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod, and a second data repository. The tether is deployed from the aircraft in a manner to position the transmission pod stationary proximate the receiving station antenna, and data is downloaded from the data repository in the aircraft to the data repository in the receiving station via the communication conductor and the wireless communication circuitry in the transmission pod.

An ordnance delivery system has a cable deployable by a winch from an aircraft, an end effector comprising controllable thrusters attached at a deployed end of the cable, first control circuitry in the end effector and second control circuitry in the aircraft, the first and second control circuitry in communication, an ordinance delivery region in the end effector carrying ordnance for delivery on a target, and a release mechanism by which the ordnance is released to fall on the target. The aircraft is piloted to a position over a target, the end effector is controlled to position more accurately over the target; and the release mechanism is activated, releasing the ordnance to fall on the target.