UAV hybrid power systems and methods

A hybrid power system comprising:

• a power controller adapted to be in communication with a first power source, a second power source, a third power source and a load, the power controller being configured to:
• detect whether a current drawn by the load exceeds a predetermined threshold current;
• control discharging of the first power source without permitting discharging of the second power source and the third power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is less than the predetermined threshold current;
• control discharging of the first power source and the second power source without permitting discharging of the third power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is greater than the predetermined threshold current and less than a first predetermined threshold current;
• and
• control discharging of the first power source, the second power source, and the third power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is greater than the first predetermined threshold current;
• wherein:
• the first power source is configured to discharge at a voltage V1 and a current I1 to power the load;
• the predetermined threshold current corresponds to the current I1 of the first power source;
• the first predetermined threshold current corresponds to a current I2;
• the current drawn by the load is I0 when the current drawn by the load is less than the predetermined threshold current;
• the current drawn by the load is I(h) when the current drawn by the load is greater than the predetermined threshold current;
• and
• the power controller is configured to:
• control the discharging of the first power source and the second power source to power the load when I(h)≤I2, such that the first power source discharges the current I1 to the load, and the second power source discharges a first boost current I(b1) to the load, wherein the first boost current I(b1) corresponds to a difference between the current I(h) and the current I1;
• and
• control the discharging of the first power source, the second power source, and the third power source to power the load when I(h)>I2, such that the first power source discharges the current I1 to the load, the second power source discharges the first boost current I(b1) to the load, and the third power source discharges a second boost current I(b2) to the load, wherein the second boost current I(b2) is calculated using the following equation:
• I(b2)=I(h)−I(b1)−I1.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:

• a load comprising at least one propulsion unit;
• a current sensor configured to detect whether a current drawn by the load exceeds a predetermined threshold current;
• a first switch disposed between a first power source and the load;
• a second switch disposed between the first power source and a second power source;
• a third switch disposed between the second power source and the load;
• and
• a power controller adapted to be in communication with the first power source, the second power source, the current sensor, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the load, wherein the power controller is configured to:
• turn on the first switch and turn off the third switch to control discharging of the first power source without permitting discharging of the second power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is less than the predetermined threshold current;
• and
• turn on the first switch and the second switch to control discharging of the first power source and the second power source to power the load when the current drawn by the load is greater than the predetermined threshold current.