Swarm-based power drive system with scalable levels of autonomy

A cargo handling system, comprising:

• a plurality of power drive units (PDUs);
• and
• a human-machine interface (HMI) controller configured to control each of the plurality of PDUs, the HMI controller comprising:
• a touch screen display;
• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• present multiple cargo operating modes to an operator via the touch screen display;
• responsive to receiving a selection of a cargo operating mode from the multiple cargo operating modes, present a set of operations associated with the cargo operating mode to the operator;
• and
• responsive to receiving a selection of at least one operation from the set of operations associated with the cargo operating mode, send at least one command to at least one power drive unit (PDU) of the plurality of PDUs, wherein the plurality of PDUs operate in a decentralized control architecture, with each PDU of the plurality of PDUs autonomously making decisions based on a current commanded objective of the at least one command and directly communicating with at least one other PDU of the plurality of PDUs and wherein each PDU in the plurality of PDUs comprises:
• a drive roller;
• a motor configured to rotate the drive roller;
• and
• a PDU controller, the PDU controller is configured to directly communicate with the at least one other PDU of the plurality of PDUs to drive cargo as per the at least one command.

An aircraft, comprising:

• a cargo deck;
• and
• a cargo handling system disposed within the cargo deck, the cargo handling system comprising:
• a plurality of power drive units (PDUs);
• and
• a human-machine interface (HMI) controller configured to control each of the plurality of PDUs, the HMI controller comprising:
• a touch screen display;
• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• present multiple cargo operating modes to an operator via the touch screen display;
• responsive to receiving a selection of a cargo operating mode from the multiple cargo operating modes, present a set of operations associated with the cargo operating mode to the operator;
• and
• responsive to receiving a selection of at least one operation from the set of operations associated with the cargo operating mode, send at least one command to at least one power drive unit (PDU) of the plurality of PDUs, wherein the plurality of PDUs operate in a decentralized control architecture, with each PDU of the plurality of PDUs autonomously making decisions based on a current commanded objective of the at least one command and directly communicating with at least one other PDU of the plurality of PDUs and wherein each PDU in the plurality of PDUs comprises:
• a drive roller;
• a motor configured to rotate the drive roller;
• and
• a PDU controller, the PDU controller is configured to directly communicate with the at least one other PDU of the plurality of PDUs to drive cargo as per the at least one command.