Control device

A control device comprising:

• a control unit configured to control an electric propulsion unit for powering a rotor included in an electric aircraft,
• wherein the electric propulsion unit includes a motor configured to rotate the rotor, an inverter configured to supply AC power to the motor, a control circuit configured to control the inverter, and a first sensor configured to detect an operation-related value related to an operation state of the electric propulsion unit including an operation of the motor,
• wherein the control unit is configured to:
• detect whether a sudden change in the operation-related value detected by the first sensor is beyond a predetermined range within a predetermined time;
• upon detecting the sudden change, detect further whether the sudden change ends, and stop power supply that depends on a first target value to the rotor from an anomalous unit being the electric propulsion unit in which the sudden change is detected,
• attempt to drive the anomalous unit with a second target value smaller than the first target value and further determine whether the anomalous unit is normal based on the operation-related value detected by the first sensor,
• when the anomalous unit is determined to be normal, resume using the operation-related value detected by the first sensor to control the electric propulsion unit, and
• when the anomalous unit is determined to be not normal, continue the stoppage.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program controlling an electric propulsion unit configured to power a rotor included in an electric aircraft,

• wherein the electric propulsion unit includes a motor configured to rotate the rotor, an inverter configured to supply AC power to the motor, a control circuit configured to control the inverter, and a first sensor configured to detect an operation-related value related to an operation state of the electric propulsion unit including an operation of the motor, and
• the computer program causes a computer to implement:
• detecting whether a sudden change in the operation-related value detected by the first sensor is beyond a predetermined range within a predetermined time;
• upon detecting the sudden change, detecting further whether the sudden change ends, and stopping using the operation-related value detected by the first sensor to control the electric propulsion unit;
• until the sudden change ends, when detected that the sudden change ends before a predetermined period ends;
• or
• beyond the ending of the predetermined time period, when detected that the sudden change has not ended after the predetermined time period ends;
• and
• determining that an abnormality has occurred in the first sensor when detected that the sudden change has not ended after the predetermined time period elapses.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program controlling an electric propulsion unit configured to power a rotor included in an electric aircraft,

• wherein the electric propulsion unit includes a motor configured to rotate the rotor, an inverter configured to supply AC power to the motor, a control circuit configured to control the inverter, and a first sensor configured to detect an operation-related value related to an operation state of the electric propulsion unit including an operation of the motor, and
• the computer program causes a computer to implement:
• detecting whether a sudden change in the operation-related value detected by the first sensor is beyond a predetermined range within a predetermined time;
• upon detecting the sudden change, detecting further whether the sudden change ends, and a function of stopping power supply that depends on a first target value to the rotor from an anomalous unit being the electric propulsion unit in which the sudden change is detected,
• attempting to drive the anomalous unit with a second target value smaller than the first target value and further determine whether the anomalous unit is normal based on the operation-related value detected by the first sensor,
• when the anomalous unit is determined to be normal, resuming using the operation-related value detected by the first sensor to control the electric propulsion unit;
• and
• when the anomalous unit is determined to be not normal, continuing the stoppage.