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US 12,006,048 B2Granted
Electric power system architecture and fault tolerant VTOL aircraft using same
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsJoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll, Martin van der Geest, Scott MacAfee, Jason Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The power system can include: a plurality of batteries, a plurality of electric propulsion units, flight computers, and power connections. The propulsion assemblies can include a motor, a propeller, and one or more inverters. The power system can optionally include a plurality of flight actuators. However, the power system can include any other suitable set of components. The power system functions to provide aircraft propulsion and/or aircraft control authority during flight.
Claims21
An electric aircraft comprising:
- a battery pair comprising a first and second battery;
- a first propulsion assembly comprising:
- a dual-wound electric motor comprising a first and second set of windings connected to the first and second batteries, respectively;
- and
- a propeller coupled to the dual-wound electric motor;
- a pair of control surfaces arranged on a first side of the mid-sagittal plane of the aircraft, the pair comprising a first and a second control surface;
- and
- a first and a second flight actuator electrically connected to the first and second batteries, respectively, wherein the first and second flight actuators are mechanically connected to the first and second control surfaces, respectively.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a flight command for an electric aircraft, the electric aircraft comprising:
- a battery pair comprising a first and a second battery;
- and
- a propulsion assembly comprising a propeller coupled to a dual-wound motor, the dual wound motor having a first and a second set of windings connected to the first and second batteries of the battery pair, respectively;
- determining a battery state for each battery of the battery pair;
- determining a weighted power distribution relative to the battery states of the first and second batteries, the weighted power distribution comprising a first weight associated with the first battery and a second weight associated with the second battery;
- based on the flight command and the first weight, supplying power from the first battery to the first set of windings of a propulsion assembly of the plurality;
- while supplying power to the first set of windings, regeneratively harvesting power from the propeller at the second set of windings based on the second weight;
- and
- supplying the regeneratively harvested power to a first flight actuator.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- deter mining a flight command for an electric aircraft, the electric aircraft comprising:
- a battery pair comprising a first and a second battery;
- and
- a plurality of propulsion assemblies, each comprising a propeller coupled to a dual-wound motor, the dual wound motor having a first and a second set of windings connected to the first and second batteries of the battery pair, respectively;
- a pair of control surfaces arranged on a first side of the mid-sagittal plane of the aircraft, the pair comprising a first and a second control surface;
- and
- a first and a second flight actuator electrically connected to the first and second batteries, respectively, the first and second flight actuators mechanically connected to the first and second control surfaces, respectively;
- determining a battery state for each battery of the battery pair;
- based on the battery state, load balancing the battery pair, comprising:
- determining a weighted power distribution relative to the battery states of the first and second batteries, the weighted power distribution comprising a first weight associated with the first battery and a second weight associated with the second battery;
- and
- based on the flight command, supplying power to a propulsion assembly of the plurality based on the first and second weights.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.