Method and system for safely landing a battery powered electric VTOL aircraft in a low charge condition
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsGregor Veble Mikic, Joeben Bevirt, Alex Stoll, Brian Matthew Uznanski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for use with a VTOL aircraft with batteries in a state of deep discharge which prepares the aircraft for a safe vertical landing despite the deep discharge initial condition. The method may include preparing the batteries for an intense burst of power as may be needed during the vertical landing. The method may include idling the battery, thermally conditioning the battery, and may further include charging the batteries by regenerative use of the rotors. The preparation of the batteries may then allow for a burst of power used for landing the aircraft.
Claims17
A method for landing an electrically powered tiltrotor aircraft in a deep discharge battery condition said tiltrotor aircraft comprising rotors and a battery or batteries, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a landing approach mode, wherein said landing approach mode is a vertical landing approach mode;
- determining a descent trajectory;
- beginning a descent with rotors in a hover configuration, said rotors having a front side and a back side opposite said front side, wherein said front side of said rotors face forward when said aircraft is in a forward flight mode and the rotors are in a forward configuration, and wherein said front side of said rotors face upwards when said rotors are in a hover configuration;
- descending the aircraft with the rotors in a hover configuration such that the airflow flows up through the rotor blades of said rotors from the back side of said rotors;
- preparing the battery or batteries for flare control, wherein the step of preparing the battery or batteries for flare control comprises heating up the battery by 10-20° C. prior to the step of arresting the aircraft motion;
- controlling the aircraft descent rate;
- and
- arresting the aircraft motion wherein arresting the aircraft motion comprises using an arresting flare, said arresting flare providing a burst of power prior to touchdown.
A method for landing an electrically powered tiltrotor aircraft in a deep discharge battery condition said aircraft comprising rotors and a battery or batteries, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a landing approach mode, wherein said landing approach mode is a vertical landing approach mode;
- beginning a descent with rotors in a hover configuration, said rotors having a front side and a back side opposite said front side, wherein said front side of said rotors face forward when said aircraft is in a forward flight mode and the rotors are in a forward configuration, and wherein said front side of said rotors face upwards when said rotors are in a hover configuration;
- descending the aircraft with the rotors in a hover configuration such that the airflow flows up through the rotor blades of said rotors from the back side of said rotors;
- preparing the battery or batteries for flare control, wherein the step of preparing the battery or batteries for flare control comprises idling the battery;
- controlling the aircraft descent rate;
- and
- arresting the aircraft motion wherein arresting the aircraft motion comprises using an arresting flare, said arresting flare providing a burst of power prior to touchdown.
A method for landing an electrically powered tiltrotor aircraft in a deep discharge battery condition, said aircraft comprising rotors and a battery or batteries, said rotors comprising propellers with a plurality of variable pitch blades, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a landing approach mode, wherein said landing approach mode is a vertical landing approach mode;
- determining a descent trajectory;
- beginning a descent with rotors in a hover configuration, said rotors having a front side and a back side opposite said front side, wherein said front side of said rotors face forward when said aircraft is in a forward flight mode and the rotors are in a forward configuration, and wherein said front side of said rotors face upwards when said rotors are in a hover configuration;
- descending the aircraft with the rotors in a hover configuration such that the airflow flows up through the rotor blades of said rotors from the back side of said rotors;
- preparing the battery or batteries for flare control, wherein the step of preparing the battery or batteries for flare control comprises:
- selecting a blade pitch angle for regenerating energy during the descent;
- and
- regenerating energy using the rotors of the aircraft;
- controlling the aircraft descent rate;
- and
- arresting the aircraft motion wherein arresting the aircraft motion comprises using an arresting flare, said arresting flare providing a burst of power prior to touchdown.
A method for landing an electrically powered tiltrotor vertical take-off and landing aircraft, said aircraft comprising rotors and a battery or batteries, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a landing approach mode, wherein said landing approach mode is a vertical landing approach mode;
- determining satisfaction of a deep discharge condition;
- determining a descent trajectory;
- beginning a descent with rotors in a hover configuration, said rotors having a front side and a back side opposite said front side, wherein said front side of said rotors face forward when said aircraft is in a forward flight mode and the rotors are in a forward configuration, and wherein said front side of said rotors face upwards when said rotors are in a hover configuration;
- descending the aircraft with the rotors in a hover configuration such that the airflow flows up through the rotor blades of said rotors from the back side of said rotors;
- preparing the battery or batteries for flare control;
- controlling the vehicle descent rate;
- and
- arresting the aircraft motion wherein arresting the aircraft motion comprises using an arresting flare, said arresting flare providing a burst of power prior to touchdown.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.