Patent ID: 7152828

Claim:
In a system for joining a first vehicle to a second vehicle, said system including a probe mounted on said first vehicle and a paradrogue mounted on said second vehicle, said probe being connected to said paradrogue for connecting said first vehicle to said second vehicle comprising: means for generating a beam mounted on one of said vehicles; means for detecting said beam mounted on the other of said vehicles and measuring the relative motion between the probe and the paradrogue; first means responsive to said detecting means for controlling the relative motion between said probe and said paradrogue; and second means for controlling the relative motion between the probe and the paradrogue when the probe is within the paradrogue to restrain relative motion therebetween comprising a cable connected to said probe on one end thereof and a reel mounted on said first vehicle, the other end of said cable being connected to said reel, and means for rotatable urging said wheel to tightly wind said cable there around, said cable and said probe forming a triangular configuration with the body of said aircraft.