System and method for breakaway during air-to-air refueling

A method for controlling an automated air-to-air refueling (A3R) mission, the method comprising:

• receiving sensor data regarding a location of a receptacle on a fuel-receiving aircraft (receiver), wherein the sensor data is indicative of a three-dimensional (3D) position of the receiver and a refueling boom of a fuel-supplying aircraft (tanker) in a tanker reference frame and a boom reference frame, respectively;
• determining coordinates for the receptacle on the receiver in the tanker reference frame;
• transforming the coordinates of the receptacle in the tanker reference frame into boom parameters in the boom reference frame, the boom parameters including a pitch, a roll, and a telescopic position of the receiver relative to the boom reference frame;
• determining a receiver status for the receiver based on the boom parameters;
• and
• initiating an automatic breakaway of the refueling boom from the receiver when the receiver status satisfies a corresponding automatic breakaway condition.

A tanker comprising:

• a fuselage configured to transport aviation fuel;
• a refueling boom connected to the fuselage;
• and
• a boom guidance system for use during an automated air-to-air refueling (A3R) mission, the boom guidance system comprising:
• a plurality of sensors configured to output sensor data indicative of a three-dimensional (3D) position of a fuel-receiving aircraft (receiver) and a refueling boom of a fuel-supplying aircraft (tanker) in a tanker reference frame and a boom reference frame, respectively;
• and
• an electronic control unit (“ECU”) in communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the ECU is programmed to:
• receive the sensor data regarding a location of a receptacle on the receiver;
• determine coordinates for the receptacle on the receiver in the tanker reference frame;
• transform the coordinates for the receptacle in the tanker reference frame into boom parameters in the boom reference frame, the boom parameters including a pitch, a roll, and a telescopic position of the receiver relative to the boom reference frame;
• determine a receiver status for the receiver based on the boom parameters;
• and
• initiate an automatic breakaway of the refueling boom from the receiver when the receiver status satisfies a corresponding automatic breakaway condition.