METHOD FOR MANAGING POWER AND ENERGY IN A FUEL CELL POWERED AERIAL VEHICLE BASED ON SECONDARY OPERATION PRIORITY

• US 20110071706A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adaptive Materials, Inc. (Edge Autonomy SLO LLC)
• Original Assignee: Adaptive Materials, Inc. (Edge Autonomy SLO LLC)
• Inventors: LaBreche, Timothy, Gorski, Michael, Ernst, Nathan, Crumm, Aaron T., Ohl, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US12/565,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/005 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/06 actuated automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A method for managing power flow within an aerial vehicle includes determining a fuel cell power limit and a battery energy reserve. The method further includes determining a flight operation power requirement. The method further includes determining priority levels of secondary operations and providing power for secondary operations based on the priority levels.

Claims

1. A method of managing power flow within an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle comprising a fuel cell, a battery, and a plurality of actuators, the method comprising:

determining a fuel cell power limit and a battery energy reserve;

determining a flight operation power requirement;

determining a priority level of secondary operations; and

providing power for secondary operations based on the priority levels.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the system power reserve based on the fuel cell power limit, the battery power limit, and an aerial vehicle speed and altitude.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the fuel cell power limit comprises measuring a current fuel cell operating power.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the battery power limit comprises determining a battery state of charge and determining a current battery output power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the system power reserve comprises summing the fuel cell power limit and the battery power limit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an flight operation power requirement comprises determining a flight control system power requirement and determining a flight speed and altitude power requirement.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing power to support a plurality aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the secondary power reserve.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

assigning a priority levels to each of the aerial vehicle secondary operations and

providing power to each of the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the assigned priority levels.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a mission and

assigning priority levels to each of the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the determined mission.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a first mission;

assigning a first set of priority levels to the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the first mission;

determining a second mission; and

assigning a second set of priority levels to the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the second mission.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising determining the first mission and the second mission at waypoints.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising determining a solid oxide fuel cell power level.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the fuel cell at a maximum output power level based on temperature.

13. A method of managing power flow within an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle comprising a fuel cell, a battery, and a plurality of actuators, the method comprising:

determining a fuel cell power limit and a battery power limit;

determining a system power reserve based on the fuel cell power limit and the battery power limit;

determining a flight operation power requirement;

determining a secondary operation power reserve based on the flight operation power level and the system power reserve;

prioritizing a plurality of secondary operations based on a selected mission

and

controlling the aerial vehicle based on the flight operating power requirement, the secondary power reserve and the secondary operation priority levels.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting missions at each of a plurality of waypoints.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the fuel cell power limit comprises measuring a current fuel cell operating power.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the battery power limit comprises determining a battery state of charge and determining a current battery output power.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein determining an flight operation power requirement comprises determining a flight control system power requirement and determining a flight speed and altitude power requirement.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing power to support a plurality aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the secondary power reserve.

19. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a first mission;

assigning a first set of priority levels to the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the first mission;

determining a second mission; and

assigning a second set of priority levels to the aerial vehicle secondary operations based on the second mission.