Automated Air Refueling Successful

[iMav]

DARPA completes successful autonomous in-flight refueling without pilot intervention


DARPA and NASA successfully completed a demonstration of an autonomous system for in-flight refueling -- a procedure that has become all too familiar for military pilots on extended missions.


The Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration (AARD) used a combination GPS, video mapping and fly-by-wire antics to plug an F/A-18's refueling nozzle into a 707-300 tanker's fuel receptacle. DARPA and NASA completed 18 successful tests using a variety of control methods and under a varying range of flight conditions.

And we thought only Hollywood could do it ...

[devauniversal]

Valuable Information Buddy thanks

[mustang]

It is really amazing & fabulous,DARPA & NASA does very quietly interesting things.Due to this an autopilot that lets an aircraft perform air-air refueling – one of the most challenging routine flight tasks outside of carrier landings, The result would be far longer strike reach and persistence, two areas that will be critical to the US Navy's ability to keep its carrier force relevant and effective through the next 3 decades.Due to this then now the J-UCAS program, which is now the Navy's UCAS-D, was a DARPA initiative as well.

[codred]

cool stuff....