Autonomous Refueling is Here – NOW

DARPA COMPLETES AUTONOMOUS AIRBORNE REFUELING DEMONSTRATION
System Performs “Better Than a Skilled Pilot”

May 3, 2007 – NASA Test Pilot Dick Ewers and Flight Test Engineer Leslie Molzahn enjoy the ride during the final flight of the Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration program. (NASA photo)

Well, it looks like the new Navy UCAV will be able to gas up on the go without any human intervention once it actually flies.

NASA and DARPA have just completed a series of flight tests which have proved the concept of autonomous refueling. I hate to say it, but with the speed and power of today’s computers it really doesn’t surprise me all that much. While I’m not surprised, I am proud of all the engineers, mechanics, computer geeks (like me only smarter ) pilots and all the rest who made this happen. The computers may have the speed and power, but it took people to make it all work .

So what goal would I set for this team if I had the chance? A couple spring to mind such as autonomous refueling from a tanker truck while you drive down the freeway and making cars drive themselves on long stretches of desolate roadway Now where would I ever have seen something like that ?

Hat tip to Lex for the link