# US 12,222,734 B2 · Control apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium, aircraft, system, and operating method of system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,734 B2 - Document ID: US12222734B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/047,083 - Filed: 2022-10-17 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-18 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shotaro Suzuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222734B2 ## CPC - G05D 1/0005: {with arrangements to save energy} - B60L 53/62: in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge - B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC] - B64C 27/08: with two or more rotors - B64C 29/0025: {the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage} - G05D 1/0016: {characterised by the operator's input device (input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00)} - G05D 1/106: {Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones} - G05D 1/223: Command input arrangements on the remote controller, e.g. joysticks or touch screens - G05D 1/621: {responding to weather conditions, e.g. storms or wind shear} - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G08G 5/32: for flight plan preparation - G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/40: characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - H02J 7/933: {the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters} - H02J 7/971: {the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters} - B60L 2200/10: Air crafts - B60L 2240/62: Vehicle position - B60L 2240/66: Ambient conditions - B60L 2240/72: Charging station selection relying on external data - B60L 2240/80: Time limits - B60L 2250/12: by confirmation, e.g. of the input - B60L 2260/32: Auto pilot mode - B60L 2260/54: Energy consumption estimation - G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)} - G05D 1/226: Communication links with the remote-control arrangements - G08G 5/57: for unmanned aircraft - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A control apparatus includes a memory storing information on power consumption for flight of an aircraft flying by an electric rotor and a controller configured to instruct the aircraft to fly on a flight path passing through a power supply facility based on a remaining charge of the aircraft and the power consumption according to flight conditions when the aircraft flies to a destination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus comprising: a memory storing information on power consumption for flight of an aircraft flying by an electric rotor; and a controller configured to instruct the aircraft to fly on a flight path passing through a power supply facility based on a remaining charge of the aircraft and the power consumption according to flight conditions when the aircraft flies to a destination, wherein the flight conditions include a total change in flight altitude based on information about an altitude required for the aircraft in each unit area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller transmits an instruction to the aircraft to charge at the power supply facility at a charging rate corresponding to the remaining charge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller transmits an instruction to the aircraft to reduce a charging time at the power supply facility in a case in which the aircraft will not arrive at the destination by a specified arrival time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller generates the instruction to reduce the charging time by taking into account a status of a battery of the aircraft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flight conditions include flight distance and/or weather. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller receives information on the destination from a terminal apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to operate as the control apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An aircraft comprising the control apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 A system comprising an aircraft flying by an electric rotor and a control apparatus communicating with the aircraft, wherein: the control apparatus includes a memory storing information on power consumption for flight of the aircraft and a controller configured to instruct the aircraft to fly on a flight path passing through a power supply facility based on a remaining charge of the aircraft and the power consumption according to flight conditions when the aircraft flies to a destination, the flight conditions include a total change in flight altitude based on information about an altitude required for the aircraft in each unit area, and the aircraft flies based on an instruction from the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus transmits an instruction to the aircraft to charge at the power supply facility at a charging rate corresponding to the remaining charge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus transmits an instruction to the aircraft to reduce a charging time at the power supply facility in a case in which the aircraft will not arrive at the destination by a specified arrival time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the control apparatus generates the instruction to reduce the charging time by taking into account a status of a battery of the aircraft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the flight conditions include flight distance and/or weather. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus receives information on the destination from a terminal apparatus. ### Claim 15 An operating method of a system comprising an aircraft flying by an electric rotor and a control apparatus communicating with the aircraft, the operating method comprising: storing, by the control apparatus, information on power consumption for flight of the aircraft and instructing the aircraft to fly on a flight path passing through a power supply facility based on a remaining charge of the aircraft and the power consumption according to flight conditions when the aircraft flies to a destination, wherein the flight conditions include a total change in flight altitude based on information about an altitude required for the aircraft in each unit area; and flying, by the aircraft, based on an instruction from the control apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the control apparatus transmits an instruction to the aircraft to charge at the power supply facility at a charging rate corresponding to the remaining charge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the control apparatus transmits an instruction to the aircraft to reduce a charging time at the power supply facility in a case in which the aircraft will not arrive at the destination by a specified arrival time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The operating method according to claim 17, wherein the control apparatus generates the instruction to reduce the charging time by taking into account a status of a battery of the aircraft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the flight conditions include flight distance and/or weather. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the control apparatus receives information on the destination from a terminal apparatus.