Automated towed glider control system
AssigneePathfinder Systems, Inc.
InventorsIvan J. Jaszlics, Sheila L. Jaszlics
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated control system for a glider towed by a tug employs a camera mounted on one of the aircraft to view the other (the “target”). An optical recognition system receives images from the camera and determines the relative range and bearing of the target. A controller determines corrections to the flight characteristics of the glider in response to the range and bearing data from the optical recognition system. An interface to the flight controls of the glider maintains the desired flight characteristics of the glider provided by the controller.
Claims14
An automated control system for a glider towed by a tug airplane (“tug”) comprising:
- a camera mounted on one of the glider and tug to view the other of the glider and tug (the “target”);
- an optical recognition system receiving images from the camera and determining the relative range and bearing of the target;
- a controller determining corrections to the flight characteristics of the glider in response to the range and bearing data from the optical recognition system to maintain a desired relative position of the glider relative to the tug while the glider is towed by the tug;
- and
- an interface to the flight controls of the glider maintaining the desired flight characteristics of the glider provided by the controller while the glider is towed by the tug.
An automated control system for a glider towed by a tug airplane (“tug”) comprising:
- a camera mounted on the glider to view the tug;
- a fiducial mark on the tug;
- an optical recognition identifying the tug and determining the range and bearing of the tug based at least in part on the appearance of the fiducial mark in images from the camera;
- a controller determining corrections to the flight characteristics of the glider in response to the range and bearing data from the optical recognition system to maintain a desired relative position of the glider relative to the tug and maintain a towing force less than a predetermined maximum value while the glider is towed by the tug;
- and
- an interface to the flight controls of the glider maintaining desired flight characteristics of the glider provided by the controller while the glider is towed by the tug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.