METHOD OF CONTROLLING TOWING SYSTEM (TOW AIRCRAFT -TOWING CABLE - TOWED AIRCRAFT) Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC B64D3/02 F41J9/10 

FIELD: transport, aviation.

SUBSTANCE: invention can be used for defining aerodynamic characteristics of towed aircraft and identifying its control systems, optimising in-flight refuelling system, carrying cargoes and dropping them down using cable systems, and perfecting antiaircraft defense system. The proposed method comprises determining, during short time intervals, the dynamic parameters, coordinates and speeds of the cable and towed aircraft by taking use of appropriate measurements and mathematical simulation of the cable system motion aboard the tow aircraft. In simulation, the initial set of the cable dynamics equations reduces to a certain simplified characteristics system built around the principle of discrete increments of energy and dynamic cable parameters. The said principle implies an assumption that, in transient processes, the driving force reaches its extreme magnitude, while the energy redistribution in the systems features an intermittent nature. The boundary conditions are determined numerically from the set of equations of dynamics of both aircrafts. Computerised simulation and control over towed aircraft are performed in conditions approximating to those of the cable system flight real time.

EFFECT: higher accuracy of determining dynamic parameters and coordinates of both cable and towed aircraft, lower test costs.

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