Method and apparatus for determining series arcing in a hybrid-electric propulsion system

A hybrid-electric propulsion (HEP) system, comprising:

• a thermal engine;
• an electric motor;
• a battery;
• a battery management unit (BMU);
• an electrical distribution bus electrically connecting the electric motor and the BMU;
• an artificial intelligence (AI) model;
• a monitoring system (MS) controller in communication with the AI model, the electric motor, the BMU, and a non-transitory memory storing instructions, which instructions when executed cause the MS controller to:
• receive a first operational parameter from the BMU unit;
• control the AI model to produce a predicted first operational parameter, wherein the AI model produces the predicted first operational parameter utilizing at least one electric motor operating parameter;
• and
• determine a presence of series arcing within the electrical distribution bus using the first operational parameter and the predicted first operational parameter;
• and
• wherein the instructions when executed cause the MS controller to cause a HEP system portion to shut down upon determination of the presence of series arcing within the electrical distribution bus.