Airbus Completes Testing for Autonomous In-Flight Refueling

Friday - November 24 2023, 22:18 UTC - 12 months ago

Airbus has completed the second round of testing concerning its fully autonomous in-flight refueling demonstrator, Auto'Mate. This technology advances safety, reliability, and efficiency of in-flight refueling missions, by providing automated refueling of uncrewed combat air vehicles and reducing crew workloads. The project involved four technologies: cameras with varying resolutions and fields of view, high-precision satellite global positioning, LiDAR sensors, and AI algorithms.

Airbus has announced that it has completed the second round of testing concerning its fully autonomous in-flight refueling demonstrator called Auto'Mate, a technology that is expected to play a crucial role in both defense and civil aviation sectors. Following a first flight test earlier this year, this second flight test investigated the use of AI-based navigation sensors and enhanced algorithms for autonomous formation flight. "For the first time, we've tested the technologies for autonomous air-to-air refueling based on controlling and guiding multiple drones from the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft," wrote Airbus in a post on X.

With Auto'Mate, the aviation giant aims to bring down operator workload, which can reduce crew fatigue and human errors, crew training costs, and ensure more effective operations, as well as improve safety and reliability, according to Airbus.

Increased efficiency .

The project initiated by the Airbus Defence and Space business unit in collaboration with Airbus UpNext, the company's innovation subsidiary, aims to enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of in-flight refueling missions.

According to the team, in-flight refueling procedures necessitate meticulous coordination between an aerial tanker's crew and the receiving aircraft's pilot. On the other hand, autonomous systems offer the potential to enhance the effectiveness of operations, enabling fuel transfers in challenging low-visibility conditions. Furthermore, the adoption of autonomous technologies can contribute to a reduction in training costs for flight crews.

Airbus claims that through the automation of in-flight refueling, an aerial tanker can assume command of a "receiver" aircraft from a considerable distance, guiding and controlling it autonomously into the correct position for fuel transfer. This includes the initiation of the actual fuel transfer through the tanker's refueling probe, culminating in a safe separation maneuver upon the completion of the operation.

Equally significant, the Auto'Mate technology paves the path for in-flight refueling of uncrewed combat air vehicles, including drones.

"The technologies are also relevant in advancing crewed-uncrewed teaming and future air force operations where fighters and mission aircraft will fly jointly with drone swarms (like in the Future Combat Air System)," said Airbus in a post on X.

Focus on technology .

In advancing autonomous in-flight refueling, Airbus is concentrating on three key technological components: utilizing various cameras with varying resolutions and fields of view, high-precision satellite global positioning, and LiDAR sensors, all integrated with AI algorithms.

Additionally, engineers at Airbus are focusing on enhancing intra-flight communication networks and developing cooperative control and collision avoidance algorithms. Leveraging their expertise in the domain, Airbus looks set to take the next step in aerial refueling. Its maiden vehicle, the A310 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport), entered into service in 2004, followed by the new-generation A330 MRTT.