# US 12,600,489 B2 · Electrical monitoring system and method for VTOL aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,489 B2 - Document ID: US12600489B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/441,542 - Filed: 2024-02-14 - Published: 2024-08-15 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-02-15 - Assignees: Supernal, LLC - Applicants: Supernal, LLC - Inventors: Omid Pezeshkfar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600489B2 ## CPC - B64D 45/00: Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for - B64D 27/33: Hybrid electric aircraft - B64D 27/34: All-electric aircraft - B64F 5/60: Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems - B64U 50/19: using electrically powered motors - B64C 29/0008: {having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded} - B64D 2045/0085: {Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract A method for monitoring an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) includes receiving current and voltage signals indicative of electric power supplied to an electric load of the eVTOL and identifying an event associated with the electric load or with a component associated with the electric load based on the current and voltage signals. The method also includes determining a change in a condition of the electric load or of the component connected to the electric load based on the identified event and outputting a notification based on the change in the condition of the electric load or with the component connected to the electric load. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL), the method comprising: receiving current and voltage signals indicative of electric power supplied to an electric load of the eVTOL and including determining an active power level and a reactive power level, based on the current and voltage signals; identifying an event associated with the electric load or with a component associated with the electric load based on (i) the current and voltage signals and (ii) comparing the active power level to a threshold or the reactive power level to a threshold; determining a change in a condition of the electric load or of the component connected to the electric load based on the identified event; and outputting a notification based on the change in the condition of the electric load or with the component connected to the electric load. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the load is an electric motor and the component is one or more of: a propeller, a gearbox, windings of the electric motor, insulation of the electric motor, a power converter, a bearing, or a shaft connected to the propeller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed during a pre-flight check of the eVTOL or a shut-down check of the eVTOL. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed during take-off, cruising, changing heading, or landing the eVTOL. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is identified by feature extraction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is identified based on one or more of: power level, harmonics, overshoot, undershoot, calculated area under the curve, or oscillation frequency, associated with the electric power monitored based on the received current and voltage signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the event is further identified with a trained machine learning model. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the current and voltage signals are generated by respective current and voltage sensors, the event being identified further based on a signal from an additional sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the additional sensor is a vibration sensor. ### Claim 10 A monitoring system for an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL), the system comprising: a memory storing instructions; and one or more processors that, when executing the instructions, perform operations including: receiving signals indicative of electric power supplied to an electric motor operatively connected to a propeller of the eVTOL, including determining an active power level and a reactive power level, based on the signals; identifying an event associated with the electric motor or with a component associated with the electric motor based on (i) the received signals and (ii) comparing the active power level to a threshold or the reactive power level to a threshold; and outputting a notification based on the identified event, the notification indicating one or more of: component failure, component wear, component remaining useful life, or a need to perform maintenance, for the electric motor or the component associated with the electric motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the notification is for the electric motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the notification indicates a fault or a remaining useful life of the electric motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the component is a battery, a propeller, a gearbox, a power converter, a bearing, or a shaft connected to the propeller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The monitoring system of claim 10, further comprising a vibration sensor, wherein the event is identified based on the received signals and based on a signal from the vibration sensor. ### Claim 15 A method for monitoring an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL), the method comprising: receiving current and voltage signals indicative of electric power supplied to a plurality of components of the eVTOL, including determining an active power level and a reactive power level, based on the current and voltage signals; identifying an event based on (i) the current and voltage signals and (ii) comparing the active power level to a threshold or the reactive power level to a threshold; identifying a component associated with the event based on the current and voltage signals; determining a change in a condition of the component based on the identified event; and monitoring changes in the condition of the component over time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including outputting a notification based on the monitored changes in the condition of the component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the component is a battery, a propeller, a gearbox, a power converter, a bearing, or a shaft connected to the propeller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the changes in the condition of the component are a remaining useful life of the component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the event is identified based on harmonic levels or oscillation frequency of the current signal, the voltage signal, or both. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the event is identified based on one or more of: overshoot, undershoot, or calculated area under the curve, associated with the electric power monitored based on the received current and voltage signals.