Touchscreen boom pod

#Boom pods used to control in-flight refueling operations currently include banks of gauges, knobs, and switches that individually control aspects of the refueling boom. Such boom pods offer insufficient flexibility and situational awareness to the operator. Furthermore, many of the physical knobs and switches are not needed during any given operational phase, but continue to clutter the control surface ad may contribute to user error.

#In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a boom pod with an adaptable user interface that automatically reconfigures based on operation phase. Elements of the user interface may also be manually reconfigured based on operator preference. Operator reconfigurations may be recorded for use during similar phases in subsequent operations.

#In a further aspect, a controller automatically records system status during a refueling operation and prepares a digital log entry.

#The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment;

#FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a boom pod according to an exemplary embodiment;

#Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

#As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such shorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only, and should not be construed to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.

#Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).