Intelligent electrical system for vehicle

• US 10,366,549 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mash, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/691,238
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/95 Means for guiding the landing UAV towards the platform, e.g. lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 : located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 : specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electrical system for a vehicle may include a main power supply and a power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply and configured to selectively electrically connect the main power supply to, and disconnect the main power supply from, a vehicle subsystem. The electrical system may also include a supervisor power supply controller configured to receive signals indicative of an operational status of the vehicle, and determine, based at least in part on the signals, expected signals associated with operation of a plurality of vehicle subsystems. The supervisor power supply controller may also receive signals associated with operation of a vehicle subsystem, and determine that the signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault. The supervisor power supply controller may cause the power supply controller associated with the vehicle subsystem to disconnect the vehicle subsystem from the main power supply.

Claims

1. An electrical system for supplying electrical power to a vehicle, the electrical system comprising:

a main power supply configured to supply electrical power to a plurality of vehicle subsystems;

a first power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply and configured to selectively electrically connect the main power supply to, and disconnect the main power supply from, a first vehicle subsystem;

a second power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply and configured to selectively electrically connect the main power supply to, and disconnect the main power supply from, a second vehicle subsystem; and

a supervisor power supply controller in communication with the first power supply controller and the second power supply controller, the supervisor power supply controller being configured to;

receive signals indicative of an operational status of the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle, expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and expected signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem, wherein the expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and the expected signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem are indicative of expected performance of the first vehicle subsystem and expected performance of the second vehicle subsystem;

receive signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem, wherein the signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem are indicative of performance of the first vehicle subsystem and the signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem are indicative of performance of the second vehicle subsystem;

determine that one or more of (1) the signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem or (2) the signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem are outside respective ranges of the expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and the expected signals indicative of operation of the second vehicle subsystem; and

cause one or more of the first power supply controller or the second power supply controller to disconnect from the main power supply the one or more of the first vehicle subsystem or the second vehicle subsystem for which the signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem or the signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem are outside the respective ranges of the expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and the expected signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem,

wherein the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle comprise signals indicative that the vehicle is one of taking-off, flying, or landing, and

wherein the supervisor power supply controller is configured to determine the expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and determine the expected signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem by processing data associated with operation of the vehicle via a fault prediction model.

2. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the first vehicle subsystem comprises at least one navigation system, and the second vehicle subsystem comprises at least one sensor system.

3. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the supervisor power supply controller is further configured to alter operation of one or more of a flight controller, a navigation system, or a sensor.

4. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the supervisor power supply controller is configured to determine the expected signals associated with operation of the first vehicle subsystem and determine the expected signals associated with operation of the second vehicle subsystem using one or more of heuristics or machine learning.

5. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the fault prediction model is trained via at least one of sensor data, camera data, or subsystem data.

6. A method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of an operational status of a vehicle;

determining, based at least in part on the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle, expected signals associated with operation of a plurality of vehicle subsystems, the plurality of vehicle subsystems being electrically powered;

receiving signals associated with operation of at least one vehicle subsystem, the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem being indicative of performance of the at least one vehicle subsystem;

determining that the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem; and

altering operation of the vehicle based at least in part on determining that the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem,

wherein the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle comprise signals indicative that the vehicle is one of taking-off, flying, or landing, and

wherein determining the expected signals associated with the operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems comprises processing data associated with the operation of the vehicle via a fault prediction model.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein altering operation of the vehicle comprises discontinuing operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem and isolating the at least one vehicle subsystem from an electrical power supply of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein altering operation of the vehicle comprises causing the vehicle to initiate travel to a designated location.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault comprises comparing the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem with the expected signals associated with operation of a plurality of vehicle subsystems.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault comprises at least one of detecting or predicting that the at least one vehicle subsystem is operating outside expected operational parameters based at least in part on the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the expected signals associated with operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems comprises using the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle to identify from previous operation of the vehicle previously received signals associated with operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems corresponding to the operational status of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising training the fault prediction model via training data comprising at least one of sensor data, camera data, or subsystem data.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the signals associated with operation of the at least one vehicle subsystem comprise signals indicative of at least one of voltage, current, or temperature associated with operation the at least one vehicle subsystem.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the at least one vehicle subsystem comprises one of at least one navigation system or at least one sensor system.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein altering operation of the vehicle comprises disconnecting the at least one vehicle subsystem from a main power supply to prevent interruption of power to other vehicle subsystems of the plurality of vehicle subsystems connected to the main power supply.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a propulsion system coupled to the frame to cause movement of the vehicle; and

an electrical system comprising;

a main power supply comprising an electrical power source configured to supply electrical power to a plurality of vehicle subsystems;

a power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply and configured to selectively electrically connect the main power supply to, and disconnect the main power supply from, a vehicle subsystem; and

a supervisor power supply controller in communication with the power supply controller, the supervisor power supply controller being configured to;

receive signals indicative of an operational status of the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle, expected signals associated with operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems, the plurality of vehicle subsystems being electrically powered;

receive signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem, the signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem being indicative of performance of the vehicle subsystem;

determine that the signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem; and

alter operation of the vehicle based at least in part on determining that the signals associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem are indicative of a fault associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem,

wherein the signals indicative of the operational status of the vehicle comprise signals indicative that the vehicle is one of taking-off, flying, or landing, and

wherein determining the expected signals associated with operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems comprises processing data associated with operation of the vehicle via a fault prediction model.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the electrical power source comprises at least one battery, and the supervisor power supply controller is configured to receive signals indicative of a level of charge of the at least one battery, and wherein, when the level of charge is below a minimum level of charge, the supervisor power controller is configured to cause at least one of the plurality of vehicle subsystems to discontinue operation.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of vehicle subsystems comprises a plurality of navigation systems and a plurality of sensor systems, and wherein the supervisor power supply controller is configured to cause at least one of the plurality of navigation systems or at least one of the plurality of sensor systems to discontinue operation.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply is configured to detect a fault associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem and, upon detection of the fault associated with the vehicle subsystem, disconnect the vehicle subsystem from the main power supply.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the power supply controller electrically connected to the main power supply is configured to:

receive signals associated with at least one of voltage, current, and temperature associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem;

determine that the signals associated with at least one of voltage, current, and temperature are indicative of a fault associated with operation of the vehicle subsystem; and

discontinue operation of the vehicle subsystem based at least in part on the determination that the signals associated with at least one of voltage, current, and temperature are indicative of a fault.