# US 12,179,930 B2 · Methods and system for estimating percentage torque produced by a propulsor configured for use in an electric aircraft

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- Number: US 12,179,930 B2
- Document ID: US12179930B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/388,077
- Filed: 2023-11-08
- Published: 2024-02-29
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-26
- Assignees: Beta Air, LLC
- Applicants: Beta Air, LLC
- Inventors: Lochie Ferrier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179930B2

## CPC

- B64D 31/06: actuated automatically
- B64D 31/16: for electric power plants
- G05B 13/0265: {the criterion being a learning criterion}
- G05B 13/042: {in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance}
- G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)}
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A system for estimating percentage torque produced by a propulsor configured for use in an electric aircraft, the system including a propulsor, the propulsor configured to generate output torque. The system including a sensor, the sensor configured to detect the output torque and generate an output torque datum. The system including a flight controller including a computing device configured to receive an output torque datum, receive an ideal propulsor model, the ideal propulsor model including at least a performance parameter, generate a model torque datum, including a model torque datum threshold, as a function of the at least a performance parameter, generate a percentage datum as a function of the output torque datum and model torque datum, and determine, at least an obstruction datum correlated to the torque percentage datum, and display torque percentage datum and the at least an obstruction datum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for estimating torque produced by a propulsor configured for use in an electric aircraft, the system comprising:
the propulsor configured to generate torque, the propulsor including at least one motor and at least one inverter; and
a flight controller, the flight controller including a computing device, the computing device configured to:
transmit a torque command to the at least one inverter;
receive, from at least one sensor, a performance parameter datum;
determine a model torque datum according to the performance parameter datum and a propulsor model;
generate, based at least in part on the model torque datum and the torque command, a torque percentage datum; and
identify an abnormal operating condition in response to the torque percentage datum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motor comprises an electric motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the propulsor comprises a propeller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one of a motion sensor or a sensor suite including a plurality of sensors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the performance parameter datum includes at least one of an air speed, an air density, or an ambient air temperature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to generate the model torque datum using stored data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to display the abnormal operating condition and the torque percentage datum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the abnormal operating condition includes determining that the torque percentage datum is different from the torque command.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the abnormal operating condition includes a system malfunction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to identify the abnormal operating condition using a machine-learning algorithm.

### Claim 11

A method of estimating torque produced by a propulsor configured for use in an electric aircraft, the method comprising:
transmitting a torque command to at least one inverter;
receiving, from at least one sensor, a performance parameter datum;
determining a model torque datum according to the performance parameter datum and a propulsor model;
generating, based at least in part on the model torque datum and the torque command, a torque percentage datum; and
identifying an abnormal operating condition in response to the torque percentage datum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the propulsor comprises at least one motor, the at least one motor including an electric motor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the propulsor comprises a propeller.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor or a sensor suite further including a plurality of individual sensors.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the performance parameter datum includes at least one of an air speed, an air density, or an ambient air temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the model torque datum using stored data.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the abnormal operating condition and the torque percentage datum.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the abnormal operating condition includes determining that the torque percentage datum is different from the torque command.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the abnormal operating condition includes a system malfunction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the abnormal operating condition based using a machine-learning algorithm.