Virtual Laser Pointer as a Point of Contact Indicator for Machine Learning Assisted Aerial Refueling or Other Targeting

An example system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions that are executable to cause the system to perform various functions. The functions include: (i) acquiring an image of a first aerial vehicle, the image depicting an object of a second aerial vehicle prior to contact between the object and a surface of the first aerial vehicle; (ii) providing the image as input to a data-driven analyzer that is trained in a supervised setting with example images for determining a predetermined point of contact between the object and the surface of the first aerial vehicle; (iii) determining, based on an output of the data-driven analyzer corresponding to the input, an estimated point of contact between the object and the surface of the first aerial vehicle; and (iv) providing the estimated point of contact to a display system.