Relative navigation for aerial recovery of aircraft

A system for recovery of a target aircraft by a host aircraft, the system comprising:

• a towline comprising a proximal section configured to be coupled with the host aircraft and a distal section configured to be paid out from the host aircraft;
• a navigation body coupled with the distal section of the towline a distance away from a distal end of the towline, the navigation body comprising:
• a housing;
• a global navigation satellite system receiver;
• and
• a global navigation satellite system antenna;
• a fitting coupled with the distal section of the towline;
• and
• a capture mechanism configured to be coupled with a fuselage of the target aircraft and to capture the fitting.

A system for recovery of a target aircraft by a host aircraft during flight, the system comprising:

• a towline comprising a proximal section configured to be coupled with the host aircraft and a distal section configured to be paid out from the host aircraft;
• a fitting coupled with the distal section of the towline;
• a beacon disposed at the fitting;
• and
• a detector disposed on the target aircraft.

A method of recovering a target aircraft by a host aircraft during flight, the method comprising:

• extending from the host aircraft a towline having a fitting comprising a real-time kinematics GPS receiver;
• determining, by the real-time kinematics GPS receiver, a location of the fitting;
• transmitting, using a wireless communications module, the location of the fitting to the target aircraft;
• navigating the target aircraft to a location near the location of the fitting;
• intercepting, by the target aircraft, the fitting;
• and
• securing, by the target aircraft, the towline to the target aircraft.

A method of recovering a target aircraft by a host aircraft during flight, the method comprising:

• extending from the host aircraft a towline having a fitting comprising a real-time kinematic capable GPS receiver;
• transmitting, using a wireless communications module, real-time kinematic data obtained with the real-time kinematic capable GPS receiver to the target aircraft;
• determining, by a real-time kinematic GPS receiver on the target aircraft, a location of the fitting;
• navigating the target aircraft to a location near the location of the fitting;
• intercepting, by the target aircraft, the fitting;
• and
• securing, by the target aircraft, the towline to the target aircraft.

A method of recovering a target aircraft by a host aircraft during flight, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a navigation body affixed to a towline, inertial measurement unit data associated with the navigation body and real-time kinematic GPS data associated with the navigation body;
• receiving, from the target aircraft, inertial measurement unit data associated with the target aircraft and real-time kinematic GPS data associated with the target aircraft;
• determining, based on the inertial measurement unit data associated with the navigation body and the inertial measurement unit data associated with the target aircraft, a relative location of the target aircraft with respect to the navigation body;
• and
• determining, based on the real-time kinematic GPS data associated with the navigation body and the real-time kinematic GPS data associated with the target aircraft, a navigation correction.