SYSTEM FOR LOCATING THE POSITION OF THE END OF THE BOOM, THE MOUTH OF THE REFUELLING VESSEL AND THE TANKER

Abstract

A system for locating the end of a boom and that of a refueling vessel in a mid-flight refueling operation from a tanker that includes means for locating the position of the inlet mouth of the fuel that is inside the vessel of the receiving plane that comprise at least one vision subsystem arranged on the tanker. Also included are means for locating the position of the boom tip comprising light emitters, placed on the boom tip, along with the vision subsystem arranged on the tanker, and processing means constructed to use the images obtained from the locating means to allow their positions and inclinations to be exactly determined with respect to a common coordinate system.

Claims

1. A System for locating the end of a boom and that of a refueling vessel in a mid-flight refueling operation from a tanker, comprising: means for locating the position of the inlet mouth of the fuel that is inside the vessel of the receiving plane that comprise at least one vision subsystem arranged on the tanker; means for locating the position of the boom tip comprising light emitters, placed on the boom tip, along with the vision subsystem arranged on the tanker; and processing means constructed to use the images obtained from the locating means to allow their positions and inclinations to be exactly determined with respect to a common coordinate system.

2. The system of claim 1, characterised by the fact that the means for locating the position of the fuel inlet mouth consist of a series of LEDs, lasers or light emitters arranged on the receiver plane of the vessel device along with some cameras placed on the tanker.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the vessel device comprises a steel or titanium or teflon or kevlar, semi-hollow band that includes at least four transparent zones of material such as a graphene, aluminum oxide or similar, inside which elements that provide light are embedded.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a sensor that receives and detects light from another device is contained in one of the transparent areas.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for locating the position of the Receiver consist of a ToF camera located in the tanker, which consists of lighting means and a sensor that measures the time it takes the light to return once emitted, together with a processing system to either recognise the position of the vessel or to make a comparison with a 3D model of the receiver and thus determine the position of the vessel inlet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for locating the position of the Receiver consist of a laser emitter placed on the tanker with a DOE lens or diffraction lens that generates a known pattern of light structured on the surface of the receiver and that along with a Processing System will allow the determination of the correspondence between the points of the matrix and the same points in the image obtained by the cameras by means of basic telemetry to also obtain the distances, and with these perform an image recognition or a comparison with a 3D model of the receiver itself to obtain information equivalent to that obtained through the Receptacle Device

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for locating the position of the boom consist of a Boom Device comprising a box that, by means of a clamp or similar, attaches to the boom or the boom's extendible bar. Said box contains light emitters with a narrow range of wavelengths, at least three, which are small in size like LEDs, each one including a diffuser where said light emitters are powered by their respective drivers that are connected to a power source through a control electronics unit and the system is controlled remotely and to generate light patterns.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the vision subsystem comprises at least two cameras sensitive to the wavelength emitted by the boom and vessel, placed in a rigid support which keeps them at a fixed distance and have an optical band pass filter and its respective focus lens behind the filter and electronics for processing and extracting both the image and the information relative to the coordinates (x, y) of each point of light emitted by each device of the previous ones.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the light emitters are the terminal ends of an optical fibre that transports light from LEDs, lasers or emitters in general, separated from the light emitting end of the optical fibre.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least the vision subsystem has controllable and variable focusing cameras.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least the vision subsystem comprises controllable and variable Iris cameras.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least the vision subsystem comprises controllable and variable zoom cameras.

13. A refueling device for the system of claim 1, wherein the boom location device has been integrated into the boom itself.

14. A vessel for a receiving aircraft for the system of claim 1, wherein the boom location device or refueling device has been integrated into the vessel itself.

15. A system for approaching and locating the end of a boom and a refueling vessel in a refueling operation in mid-flight from a receiving vessel to a tanker, with the boom including three locating devices, one arranged on the receiving vessel, another under a tanker and another on a tip of the boom, each location device comprising: at least three LED- or laser-type light emitters, or a combination of both, each with a diffuser, each light emitter being powered by its respective driver, and all commanded by a control electronics unit at least two high-speed vision cameras (>30 fps), with their respective lenses and narrow bandpass optical filters, tuned to the light emitted by another collaborating device. The cameras will have high-speed FPGA-type or similar electronics to determine the coordinates of the points of light emitted by another Locating Device collaborator in real time; a light sensor with its respective lens capable of detecting light from another collaborating locating device when it is nearby; electronic equipment constructed to process and save the coordinates provided by both cameras to obtain the relative coordinates of each emitter with respect to one of the cameras; and a communication bus constructed to recognize, process and store electronic signal information associated with the device.

16. A procedure for approaching and locating the end of a boom and a refueling vessel in a refueling operation in mid-flight from a receiving vessel to a tanker provided with the boom as recited in claim 15, and comprising: visualization from the vessel device cameras of the lights placed in the tank that flash, generating patterns following the frame frequency of these cameras. Determination of the position of the tank with respect to the Vessel Device cameras, in order to facilitate the approach of the receiving aircraft. Positioning of the receiving plane with respect to the tank to allow refueling. In this position the receiver can be seen by the tanker cameras. Blinking of the lights arranged on the Receiving Device with a certain cadence that has two modes of operation; the first being a blinking with a fixed frequency, which coincides with the frame frequency of the cameras with which it performs a pattern emission; and the second being a different frequency of about 48 KHz as the preferred value and which allows encoded voice information to be sent to the Boom Device. Determination of the position of the Vessel mouth with respect to the tanker: Elimination in the cameras of the frame image of the light not related to the device by means of the optical filters that the cameras have. Subtraction of the images from the successive frames of the video by an image processor to obtain the differences between one image and the next one and thus be able to show with greater clarity the points that vary from one frame to the next Correlation of the differences with the pattern code used for the blinking of the lights to determine the lights that are relevant. Calculation of the coordinates of these emitters through simple mathematics that allow it to be included in the electronics and recalculated in real time. While the previous operations take place, the lights placed on the boom close to the nozzle will be made to flash in a similar way and with a similar management to the previous one for the Vessel Device. In doing this, they will also be able to emit information not only on the position but also voice information. Determination of the position of the boom lights with respect to the same tanker coordinates System. Determine exactly the coordinates of the end of the nozzle with respect to the tanker. Determination of the relative positions between both significant points: Boom Tip and Vessel Mouth as well as the vectors orthogonal to their surfaces.

Description

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

[0068] To supplement the description being given and with the aim of promoting a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment of the same, a set of drawings are provided as an integral part of the description in which, for merely illustrative purposes, the following has been represented:

[0069] In FIG. 1, we can observe a simplified representation in a first embodiment of the System for Approaching and Locating the end of the Boom and the mouth of the Vessel.

[0070] In FIG. 2, we can observe a simplified representation of the System for Approaching and Locating the end of the Boom and the mouth of the Vessel.

[0071] In FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of the Location System to that found in FIG. 1 is proposed.

[0072] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C represent the three different devices or subsystems that comprise this invention.

[0073] FIG. 5A depicts the first of the devices of this invention shown in FIG. 4A in more detail.

[0074] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of the Vessel Device.

[0075] FIG. 5C represents a cross section of that part of the receiver.

[0076] FIG. 5D is a Cartesian representation of the elements of FIG. 5C.

[0077] FIG. 6 represents a receiving plane at the moment in which the boom (15) is about to make contact.

[0078] FIG. 7 represents the image obtained from the boom when the Vision Subsystem is placed in the Belly Fairing located on the underside of the tanker.

[0079] FIG. 8 shows a view of the tanker aircraft as well as its deployed boom.

[0080] FIG. 9 is a Cartesian and schematic representation of the locations of the most important elements that form part of the Boom Device.

[0081] FIG. 10 is a Cartesian representation of the Vision Subsystem.

[0082] In FIG. 11 the architecture of the Vision Subsystem is represented.

[0083] FIG. 12 represents a box in which the elements that form part of the Boom Device are included.

[0084] In FIG. 13 the composition of the Vessel Device is described.

[0085] In FIG. 14 a representation of the Locating Device for refueling is shown.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0086] In view of the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is described below.

[0087] FIG. 1 shows a mother plane or tanker (40) provided with a boom (15) that has an extendible part (13), at the end of which the first light emitters (12) can be found, while the second light emitters (2) are arranged on the receiving plane, which additionally and in a complementary manner can have a reception sensor (22); in addition, cameras (26) are also arranged on the tanker.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment corresponding to the System for approaching and locating the end of the boom and the mouth of the vessel, which comprises locating devices (41) arranged on the tip of the boom (15), another on the vessel and another on the tanker (40), where each locator device (41) comprises the following: [0089] At least three LED- or Laser-type light emitters [0090] At least two high-speed vision cameras [0091] Electronic equipment that processes the coordinates [0092] A light sensor with its respective lens

[0093] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to that proposed in FIG. 1, where the means for locating the vessel used consisting of light emitters (21), have been replaced by the use of any of the following means, which also serve to locate the vessel (a ToF camera (42), a laser emitter (43), and a DOE pattern (44))

[0094] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C represent the three different elements or Subsystems that make up the Location System of the end of the boom and the mouth of the vessel.

[0095] In FIG. 4A we can see an element (5) that grabs the receiving plane just above the fuel vessel. Known as a Vessel Device, it has an inverted U or V shape and a structure (5) in which there are at least three lights (2) that are found on its surface. This element has a connection cable (7) which ends in a connector to join with the control part of the aircraft.

[0096] FIG. 4B shows the so-called boom device, located at the end of the boom (20), consisting essentially of a ring (19) for fixing and protecting it, and light emitters (12) for locating it.

[0097] In FIG. 4C we can see a set of two cameras (26) which when placed in a suitable position on the tank will allow the other devices of this invention to be seen and located, and which constitutes the so-called Vision Subsystem. The two chambers are joined and fixed by means of a support (28), each chamber being provided with its respective lenses (25) and filter element (24).

[0098] FIG. 5A shows the Vessel Device in more detail in which a reception sensor (22) placed on the structure (5) can be seen and which allows information to be received in the form of light coming from the Boom Tip Device when the tip of the boom and the vessel have come together. In addition, the Vessel Device has a series of light emitters (21), with both elements (21) and (22) embedded in a transparent or translucent material (23). Underneath the vessel device the mouth (8) of the vessel (9) is shown, in which the nozzle of the boom (9) must be fitted.

[0099] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of the vessel device, where the structure (5) is visible, along with a transparent or translucent material (3) that protects the light emitter (2) placed on a printed circuit (4) where the rest of the electronics used with it can be found.

[0100] FIG. 5C represents a cross-sectional view of the same part of the receiver, showing the structure (5) of the vessel device provided with an inclination similar to that which would be found in a cut section of the receiving plane in the area of the vessel, along with the light reflector emitters (21) and the end (6) of the vessel mouth, where the segment (b) represents the distance from the centre of the closure of this to the mid-point of the segment joining the two light emitters which are found in the mid-zone of the device, while (a) the distance from the same central point of the mouth of the vessel to the upper light (21) of the device on an axis orthogonal to the axis of the same vessel is shown. Finally is the angle between both segments described above, (a) and (b).

[0101] FIG. 5D is a Cartesian representation of the elements described above. The axes refer to a local origin O and should later refer to the origin O located in the centre of the image sensor of the left chamber, as shown in FIG. 7. P is the midpoint between the lights P2 and P3 and u.sub.o, v.sub.o and w.sub.o are versors (unit vectors) in the directions of the different axes. The O-P axis is the same axis as the vessel tube axis.

[0102] FIG. 6 represents a receiving plane at the moment when the boom (15) is about to make contact with the mouth of the vessel (8). The view represents the image when the Vision Subsystem is located in the preferred position in this invention placed in the tail cone. It shows: Boom flap (14), extendible part (13) of the boom, device lights (12a) of the end of the boom of this invention placed on top of the extendible pole for this preferred implementation. The nozzle (11) and ramp (10) of the vessel on which the nozzle is usually slid before contact can also be observed.

[0103] FIG. 7 represents the image obtained from the boom when the Vision System is placed in the Belly Fairing located on the underside of the tanker. The figure shows the nozzle (11), the extensible part (13) of the boom, the end of the boom (14) and the fixed part (15) of the boom from the bottom of the tanker. It also shows the location (12b) of the illumination ring of this invention when the Vision System is positioned as described above. Both points of view generate images of the contact, each with its own drawbacks and advantages. The Boom device could contain six or more light emitters and, in this way, allow the Vision Subsystem to be placed in the two indicated locations (Tail Cone and Belly Fairing), with which complementary images would be obtained that may generate an interesting redundancy, which is very useful for these types of Systems.

[0104] FIG. 8 shows a view of the tanker aircraft as well as its deployed boom, to indicate the two positions in which the Vision Subsystem can be located. The first situation corresponds to its (preferred) placement in the tail cone (18a), while the second situation corresponds to its location under the Belly Fairing (18b), the underside of the tanker. Said locations correspond, as already mentioned, to various implementations of the boom's illumination ring, which can be arranged either in the rear part (12a) or in the front part (12b), corresponding to the locations (18a) and (18b) of the cameras. Each of the cameras, depending on its positioning in the tail cone (18a) or on the underside of the aircraft (18b), define the fields of vision (16) and (17) respectively according to the specific location.

[0105] FIG. 9 is a Cartesian and schematic representation of the locations of the most important elements that form part of the boom device consisting basically of a metal ring or a similar support element, in which at least three light emitters P1, P2 and P3 are embedded, placed forming a triangle. Point P is the midpoint between the outermost light emitters P2 and P3. O is the chosen local origin of the coordinates. Once again, there must be a movement in order to be able to refer any point to the global origin placed in the centre of the image sensor of one of the cameras; u.sub.o, v.sub.o and w.sub.o are versors (unit vectors) in the directions of the different axes, d2 is the distance from the centre of the fuel outlet nozzle of the boom to the local O origin that can be determined by knowing the distance PO which measured in the device will have a value, d1. v.sub.o is a versor in the direction of the Boom axis.

[0106] FIG. 10 is a Cartesian representation of the Vision Subsystem. In this drawing, both cameras can be seen as well as what they would show when aimed at a point P of the space. Each camera will see the point with different local coordinates (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) in which the point will appear as point P1 and P2 respectively. The Z coordinate in each of the local representations can be calculated from the angle /2 corresponding to half of the FoV (Field of View) of each camera which will depend on the optics and resolution of the camera as well as the size of its sensor. Once Z1 and Z2 are found, local to the point for each chamber, Z, X and Y of the point will be obtained with respect to a predetermined reference origin. In our case, the centre or origin O that we have placed, without the loss of generality, is in the centre of the sensor of the left chamber, as shown in the figure. This will give us the coordinates of any point observed by both cameras with respect to the same coordinate axes and therefore the real relative coordinates between them.

[0107] FIG. 11 shows the architecture of the Vision Subsystem, which includes the main components that make up its architecture. A preferably metallic outer aluminum enclosure includes two chambers separated by a distance of about half a metre (the greater the distance, the better the spatial resolution on the z-axis). Each camera (26) has sensor and electronics for adapting and reading, to which a lens (25) and filter (24) must be placed beforehand to eliminate the wavelengths which differ from those emitted by the Boom and Vessel devices. It includes special electronics (32) based on FPGA in order to obtain results in real time and which performs a processing and image recognition and extraction of local coordinates xi, yi of the points of light of the indicated devices.

[0108] The coordinate information of both cameras is transferred to a Processing System (33) where finally the X, Y, Z coordinates of each light emitter is obtained with respect to a coordinate axis whose origin has been taken at the centre of the sensor of the left camera for greater ease, notwithstanding the use of any other.

[0109] FIG. 12 represents a box in which the elements that form part of the Boom Device are included. Essentially, it is comprised of light emitters (38), which are LEDs in this preferred implementation, at least three, powered by their respective drivers (37) which are in turn handled by a microcontroller (36) which in turn connects with the Vision Subsystem through a control bus with its respective communications electronics (34). The control bus will be synchronised with the Vision Subsystem in order to obtain the position of the Vision Subsystem light emitters.

[0110] In FIG. 13 the composition of the Vessel Device is described. In it, in this preferred implementation, a set of LEDs (LED1, LED 2, LED3, LEDn) (38) at least 3, are powered by their respective drivers (37) and these are activated and deactivated by a microcontroller (36) which will be controlled remotely. This device can be turned on or off from the console of the receiving plane. Additionally, a sensor (35) will receive light through its corresponding filter (29) in order for the signal adapter element (39) to provide the microcontroller (36) with information on the pulses received therein and coming from the boom device. The device may store the received information in a non-volatile memory. The microcontroller, which has a processing algorithm, not only controls the lighting of the LEDs but, in addition to the information received from the light sensor (35), it can extract both information about the position of the device with respect to the boom device and about audio information, which could be inserted in the sequence of pulses emitted by the latter. Finally, a communication bus allows this device to be controlled from the receiving plane, as already mentioned.

[0111] FIG. 14 shows the structure of a Location Device (41). The device is enclosed in a box (0) and consists of a set of at least three light emitters (2) with their respective diffusers (23) fed by their corresponding drivers (37). Two cameras (26) with their corresponding lenses (25) and narrow bandpass optical filters (24). Both cameras (26) and light emitters are controlled by a control electronics unit and the information from the first (26), as well as that coming from the light sensor (35) provided with its optical band pass filter (29), is processed by a real-time processing unit based on FPGA or similar electronics (33, 36, 39). The cameras have their own electronics for calculating the coordinates of the points of light coming from another Location Device in real time. The device communicates with the exterior through a communications bus (34) and is powered by a power source from the plane, which is not shown in the drawing.

Detailed Functioning of the System:

[0112] In the case that the vessel (FIG. 6.10) placed on the surface of the fuel receiver is in a position that can be seen by the subsystem of the two cameras (FIG. 4C) placed in a favourable position on the tanker (such as the tail cone (FIG. 818a) or the belly fairing (FIG. 818b)), cameras placed on the Vessel Device and pointed in the opposite direction could show the tanker and more specifically the tanker's vision system. Next to it, the light emitters of the tanker have been placed, which will emit their corresponding pattern from this position that will be captured by the cameras next to the Vessel Device. In this way, the receiver can locate the tanker and approach it in order to get into the refueling position. (This is one of the features pursued by this invention).

[0113] Even before reaching that placement in the refueling position, the lights placed on the device (FIG. 4A.5) that are on the upper side of the vessel, or distributed in another alternative implementation, on the surface of the receiving aircraft, begin to blink with a cadence corresponding to a certain code. This flashing has two modes of operation or two particular functionalities, the first is a blinking at a fixed frequency that matches the frame rate of the cameras and the second is a different frequency with about 48 KHz as the preferred value and that allows coded voice information to be sent to the Boom Device which, with a suitable optical filter in front of its sensor (FIG. 1429) is able to eliminate the information light not related to the device from the signal received. It is obvious that the narrower the bandpass filter and the more coherent the light emitted (FIG. 1338), the easier it will be to eliminate the unwanted light. The pattern sent by the light emitters allows an additional aid to distinguish which pixels of the images obtained by the cameras of the Vision Subsystem placed in the tanker correspond to the illumination generated by the light sources of the vessel device. The image processor (FIG. 1132) placed behind the cameras, within the Vision Subsystem, will subtract the images from successive frames of the video to obtain the differences between one image and the next and thus be able to show with greater clarity the points that vary from one frame to the next. These differences will be correlated with the code used for the blinking of the lights to thereby further facilitate the task of detecting each of the lights placed on the device, as well as to identify each of them in both cameras.

[0114] Once the light from the emitters of the vessel device are received as coordinates in the Vision Subsystem cameras, the coordinates of these emitters will be calculated using simple mathematics which allows it to be included in the electronics and recalculated in the image time frame (FIG. 1133).

[0115] Thereby, using the coordinates of the lights, the location of the vessel mouth (FIG. 5B5) will be obtained along with the vector orthogonal to the mouth with respect to the coordinate axes referring to the tanker and more specifically with respect to one of its cameras. (This is the second important functionality pursued by this invention).

[0116] At the same time, the lights placed on the boom, near the nozzle (FIG. 4B12) or (FIG. 612a) or (FIG. 812b) will be flashed in a similar manner, although not identically, to those of the vessel device, and their positions with respect to the same system of tanker coordinates can be determined through a completely analogous procedure. From this position we can precisely determine the coordinates of the end of the nozzle through which the fuel leaves as well as the vector orthogonal to the nozzle's output section. (This is the third important functionality pursued by this invention).

[0117] Initially, we had the position of the tanker from the receiver and now we have the relative position of the vessel mouth and of the boom outlet tip, with both referring to the same tanker reference axes. Through control laws that either govern or aid the movement of both the boom and the receiver plane itself, a semi-automatic or even automatic guidance can be implemented to improve the operation. When the connection is made, both sets of coordinates must match and it will be time to make the adjustments considered appropriate, as in other implementations of this invention, the calculation of the vessel mouth position may not be as obvious as that corresponding to the preferred implementation of this, since the light emitters could be distributed along the surface of the receiver. This could have other advantages. During this moment of actual contact, the information on the position of the lights is exactly that desired for the contact and the fact that it can be stored is very interesting; something that this invention accomplishes thanks to the communication established between the receiving plane's vessel device and the tanker's Vision Subsystem. The receiver uses the light from its emitters as a carrier to send encrypted digital information to the Vision Subsystem. At the same time, the Boom device can send information, not only to the Vision Subsystem, but also to the vessel device where the light sensor placed in it will close the communication loop between both aircraft. The receiving aircraft may store the situation information from the contact and other relevant auxiliary information that may be of interest to the tanker in relation to it.

[0118] Once the position is stored, and during a future connection between tanker and the same receiver, the latter will be able to tell the tanker what position the vessel should be in for the exact connection to take place. In addition to that exchange of location information, this channel can be used for spoken communications, thus avoiding any radio signal that could be detected more easily than an optical signal.

[0119] Another important functionality of the invention is the possibility of performing a duplex voice communication between receiver and tanker. That is, between the Vessel Device and the Boom Device. Both have two ways to turn on their respective light emitters. One to send the position and another to send and receive a signal of tens of kHz, enough to carry a voice signal. And this can occur in both directions, provided both devices are equipped with the respective light sensors.

[0120] Therefore, the stages that take place for the correct functioning of the System include: [0121] Visualization from the Vessel Device cameras of the lights placed in the tank that flash, generating patterns following the frame frequency of these cameras. [0122] Determination of the position of the tank with respect to the Vessel Device cameras, in order to facilitate the approach of the receiving aircraft. [0123] Positioning of the receiving plane with respect to the tank to allow refueling. In this position the receiver can be seen by the tanker cameras. [0124] Blinking of the lights arranged on the Receiving Device with a certain cadence that has two modes of operation; the first being a blinking with a fixed frequency, which coincides with the frame frequency of the cameras with which it performs a pattern emission; and the second being a different frequency of about 48 KHz as the preferred value and which allows encoded voice information to be sent to the Boom Device. [0125] Determination of the position of the vessel mouth with respect to the tanker: [0126] Elimination in the cameras of the frame image of the light not related to the device by means of the optical filters that the cameras have. [0127] Subtraction of the images from the successive frames of the video by an image processor to obtain the differences between one image and the next one and thus be able to show with greater clarity the points that vary from one frame to the next. [0128] Correlation of the differences with the pattern code used for the blinking of the lights to determine the lights that are relevant. [0129] Calculation of the coordinates of these emitters through simple mathematics that allow it to be included in the electronics and recalculated in real time. [0130] While the previous operations take place, the lights placed on the boom close to the nozzle will be made to flash in a similar way and with a similar management to the previous one for the Vessel Device. In doing this, they will also be able to emit information not only on the position but also voice information. [0131] Determination of the position of the boom lights with respect to the same tanker coordinates system. [0132] Determine exactly the coordinates of the end of the nozzle with respect to the tanker. [0133] Determination of the relative positions between both significant points: Boom tip and vessel mouth as well as the vectors orthogonal to their surfaces.

Calibration: Determination of the Relative Position of Contact and Storage Thereof

[0134] During the moment of contact between the boom nozzle and the vessel, the set of cameras (which will be placed preferably on the bottom of the tail cone of the tanker, although they could also be placed on the bottom of its main body, the Belly Fairing, or distributed along this and on more parts of the plane), the set of lights of the device that is the object of this invention will be able to be seen from the shortest possible distance (which is the moment of contact), mainly the vessel device placed on the surface of the plane receiver. Said device may have the form presented here as the preferred implementation but could also be distributed in several pieces arranged on the surface of the receiver. This device could even be replaced by a system that obtains the position of the vessel by alternative methods. The first task of this invention is to obtain the position of the point that is in the mouth of the vessel together with a vector perpendicular thereto. In such a way that, from the information gathered by the Vision Subsystem on the position of light emitters or alternative methods and elements, these six parameters must be obtained. Therefore, the moment of contact is a safe time in which we will truly know the relative position between the information obtained from the Vessel Device, in any of its implementations, and the vessel mouth and its orthogonal vector. At that moment the cameras will be able to determine with the maximum accuracy where the nozzle should be placed with respect to the set of lights or other elements, and from this determine with the same precision the location of the vessel with respect to them. This information is fundamental and will allow the calibration of the entire System. This is why, during this moment of contact, the information on the location in which the vessel is found is completely accurate and must pass from the tanker to the receiving aircraft which will store it in order to provide it to other tankers.

Receiving Location Information

[0135] At the time of contact, as already mentioned, the distance between the tip of the boom and the vessel of the receiving plane is particularly favourable.

[0136] In the device object of this invention that is placed next to said vessel there is at least one light receiving sensor that will receive the information that will be sent from the nozzle of the boom in the form of light in a preferred implementation. In this way, the receiver can receive the information obtained in the tanker at the time of contact and store it, in order for it to be sent by its active element or elements during a future point of contact, when another tanker so requests. In addition, the same tanker can store this information for future points of contact, since it can be kept in a small database for all those recipients with whom contact has been made. Not only can the contact data be stored, but the vessel can also transmit other fuel data, etc. to the tanker, which will be stored in the database.

[0137] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is noted that it may be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also reach the protection sought, provided that it does not alter, change or modify its fundamental principle.