Performance monitoring system for an electric drive system
AssigneeAurora Flight Sciences Corporation
InventorsThomas Richard Needham, William Robert Bosworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A performance monitoring system for an electric drive system includes a speed controller configured to operatively couple a power source to an electric motor. The performance monitoring system also includes a plurality of sensors to measure performance metrics associated with the power source, the speed controller and the electric motor. The performance monitoring system additionally includes a health/performance monitoring system comprising a processor and a data storage device. The health/performance monitoring system is configured to determine an efficiency of operation and health of the electric drive system based on the measured performance metrics.
Claims20
A performance monitoring system for an electric drive system, comprising:
- a speed controller configured to operatively couple a power source to an electric motor;
- a plurality of sensors to measure performance metrics associated with the power source, the speed controller and the electric motor;
- and
- a health/performance monitoring system comprising a processor and a data storage device, wherein the health/performance monitoring system is configured to determine an efficiency of operation and health of the electric drive system based on the measured performance metrics.
A performance monitoring system for an electric drive system, comprising:
- an electric motor;
- a speed controller that controls the speed of the electric motor;
- a power source that provides electrical power for driving the electric motor;
- a sensor for measuring one or more performance metrics associated with the electric motor;
- another sensor for measuring one or more performance metrics associated with the speed controller;
- and
- a health/performance monitoring system comprising a processor and a data storage device, the health/performance monitoring system being configured to receive measurements of current and voltage supplied from the power source, measurements of current and voltage supplied from the speed controller to the electric motor, and measurements of the speed of the electric motor, wherein the health/performance monitoring system is further configured to determine an efficiency of operation and health of the electric drive system using the current and voltage measurements and speed measurements of the electric motor.
A performance monitoring system for a multi-motor aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of electric drive systems mounted to the multi-motor aerial vehicle, each electric drive system comprising an electric motor and a speed controller;
- a power source provides electrical power for driving each electric motor, wherein each speed controller operatively couples the power source to an associated electric motor;
- a plurality of sensors for measuring performance metrics associated with the power source, each speed controller and each of the electric motors;
- and
- a health/performance monitoring system comprising a processor and a data storage device, the health/performance monitoring system being configured to receive measurements of current and voltage supplied from the power source, measurements of current and voltage supplied from each speed controller to the associated electric motor, and measurements of speed of each electric motor, wherein the health/performance monitoring system is further configured to determine an efficiency of operation and health of each electric drive system using the current and voltage measurements and speed measurements of each electric motor, and wherein an output of each electric motor is controlled based on the efficiency of operation and health of each electric drive system.
A method for monitoring an electric drive system, comprising:
- receiving current and voltage measurements of electrical power supplied to a speed controller by a power source;
- receiving current and voltage measurements of electrical power driving an electric motor, wherein the speed controller operatively couples the power source to the electric motor to provide electrical power to drive the electric motor;
- measuring speed of the electric motor;
- and
- determining an efficiency of operation and health of the electric drive system by a health/performance monitoring system using the current and voltage measurements and speed measurements of the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.