Modeling and Simulation for the Automation of Aerial Refueling of Military Transport Aircraft with the Probe-and-Drogue System

Abstract

This paper presents the modeling and simulation activities currently conducted at DLR to support aerial refueling automation research activities. During the air-to-air refueling maneuver the tanker and receiver aircraft need to fly very close to each other, which induces a very significant aerodynamic interaction between them. Both aircraft also influence the motion of the probe-and-drogue, which needs to be modeled as well. The paper gives an overview of the developed model and simulation infrastructure, their main functionalities, and of the work needed to produce the data supporting this modeling. Unlike in many other work with similar modeling needs, RANS CFD computations were preferred to more simple techniques for the modeling of the aerodynamic interaction between tanker, receiver, hose, and drogue. The real time capable dynamic model is based on two complete aircraft dynamic model. A complete set of simulation programs (including all the complexity of modern airliner flight control systems) is used in connection with each of the aircraft. The coupled simulation programs are deployed in the DLR AVES simulator. For this, many modifications in the AVES core programs and their configurations were needed to extend it from to enable the simulation of a formation of two aircraft: some of these modifications are mentioned throughout the text from a functional point of view but without diving too much into the AVES-specific implementation details.