The Boeing Company
Aiding maneuvering of obscured objects

Abstract:

A system is provided. The system includes a camera on a refueling aircraft to obtain an image of a receiver aircraft having a receptacle for refueling the receiver aircraft. The system also includes a processor on the refueling aircraft to determine an orientation and position of the receiver aircraft relative to the camera, a separation distance and respective positions of a refueling boom of the refueling aircraft and the receptacle. The processor also generates a display of a side perspective view of 3D models of the refueling boom and the receiver aircraft having the receptacle. The display of the side perspective view illustrates a current position of the refueling boom relative to a current position of the receptacle and enables an operator on the refueling aircraft to observe and guide the refueling boom to the receptacle.