Power generation and distribution for vehicle propulsion
First Claim
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1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
- a hybrid power generation system comprising;
a combustion engine; and
a generator mechanically coupled to the combustion engine;
a plurality of propulsion systems, each propulsion system located remote from the hybrid power generation system, each propulsion system comprising;
an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator; and
a rotational mechanism coupled to the electric motor;
an electronic control unit configured to control operations for the combustion engine; and
a plurality of electronic speed controllers configured to control operations for the plurality of propulsion systems, respectively,wherein controlling operations of the combustion engine is independent of controlling the plurality of propulsion systems,wherein controlling operations of at least one propulsion system is independent of controlling the remainder of the plurality of propulsion systems, andwherein the combustion engine is controlled to produce a single rotational output that is provided to the mechanically coupled generator.
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Abstract
An aerial vehicle includes a hybrid power generation system comprising an engine; a generator mechanically coupled to the engine; and a propulsion system comprising an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator and a rotational mechanism coupled to the electric motor.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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a hybrid power generation system comprising; a combustion engine; and a generator mechanically coupled to the combustion engine; a plurality of propulsion systems, each propulsion system located remote from the hybrid power generation system, each propulsion system comprising; an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator; and a rotational mechanism coupled to the electric motor; an electronic control unit configured to control operations for the combustion engine; and a plurality of electronic speed controllers configured to control operations for the plurality of propulsion systems, respectively, wherein controlling operations of the combustion engine is independent of controlling the plurality of propulsion systems, wherein controlling operations of at least one propulsion system is independent of controlling the remainder of the plurality of propulsion systems, and wherein the combustion engine is controlled to produce a single rotational output that is provided to the mechanically coupled generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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in a hybrid power generation system of an aerial vehicle; generating mechanical energy in a combustion engine; and converting the generated mechanical energy into electrical energy in a generator mechanically coupled to the combustion engine; at an electronic control unit, controlling operations of the combustion engine such that the combustion engine operates to produce a single rotational output that is provided to the mechanically coupled generator; at each of a plurality of electronic speed controllers, controlling operations of at least one of a plurality of propulsion systems, respectively; at the plurality of propulsion systems of the aerial vehicle, each propulsion system located remote from the hybrid power generation system; converting the electrical energy into rotational mechanical energy to drive rotation of a rotational mechanism of each propulsion system; driving rotation of the rotational mechanism in each propulsion system independently of the rotation of the rotational mechanism in each other propulsion system, wherein controlling operations of the combustion engine at the electronic control unit is independent of controlling the plurality of propulsion systems, and wherein controlling operations of the plurality of propulsion systems is independent of controlling operations of the combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification