CPC B64D 39/06 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 1/06 (2013.01); B64D 1/16 (2013.01); B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64D 5/00 (2013.01); B67D 7/04 (2013.01); B67D 7/40 (2013.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/12 (2023.01); B64U 50/34 (2023.01); B64U 80/82 (2023.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A refueling system, comprising:
a first vehicle having a fuel tank connected through a pumping apparatus to a deployable fuel hose;
an end effector having a plurality of thrusters providing thrust in a plurality of directions and control elements providing controlled flight, the fuel hose connected at an end away from the first vehicle, through the end effector to a fuel connector under the end effector;
a second vehicle having a fuel tank coupled through a pumping apparatus to a fueling port on an acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire the end effector and connect the fueling port and the fuel connector of the end effector; and
control circuitry in one of the vehicles and in the end effector enabling controlled flight of the end effector;
wherein the end effector is controlled to be acquired by the acquisition apparatus to couple the fuel connector with the fueling port and fuel is provided from the fuel tank of one of the vehicles to the fuel tank of the other of the vehicles through the pumping apparatus.
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