System and method of controlling a plurality of energy loads and energy supplies in a coordinated manner
First Claim
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1. An unmanned vehicle or vessel, the vehicle or vessel comprising:
- a plurality of load interfaces configured to removably couple energy loads to the vehicle or vessel to communicatively link the energy loads with the vehicle or vessel, the load interfaces comprising a first load interface;
a plurality of supply interfaces configured to removably couple energy supplies to the vehicle or vessel to communicatively link the energy supplies with the vehicle or vessel, wherein the supply interfaces include a wherein the energy supplies are coupled with the energy loads to permit the transfer of power therebetween, the supply interfaces comprising a first supply interface;
a communication interface configured to transmit information from and/or receive information to the vehicle or vessel;
one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules, the one or more computer program modules comprising;
a load module configured to obtain information related to the energy loads coupled with the vehicle or vessel via the load interfaces such that, responsive to the energy loads including a first energy load coupled to the first load interface, the load module is configured to obtain one or more of an identification of the first load, a load type of the first load, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first load;
a supply module configured to obtain information related to the energy supplies coupled to the vehicle or vessel via the supply interfaces such that, responsive to the energy supplies including a first energy supply coupled to the first supply interface, the supply module is configured to obtain one or more of an identification of the first energy supply, a supply type of the first energy supply, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first energy supply;
a mission interface module configured to obtain information related to a mission to be performed by the vehicle or vessel via the load interfaces;
a plan module configured to automatically generate a mission plan for executing the mission obtained by the mission interface module based on the information related to energy loads obtained by the load module and the information related to energy supplies obtained by the supply module, wherein the mission plan identifies functions to be performed by the energy loads to execute the mission, identifies functions to be performed by the energy supplies to provide power to the energy loads sufficient to enable the energy loads to perform the functions identified for the energy loads in the mission plan, and wherein the plan module is configured to generate the mission plan in advance of commencement of execution of the mission.
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Abstract
The operation and/or power of a plurality of energy loads and/or energy supplies configured to supply power to the energy loads are managed in a coordinated manner. The coordinated control over the energy loads and/or energy supplies may enable the execution of missions including a one or more objectives by energy loads with an enhanced efficiency, autonomy, and/or effectiveness. Aspects of the planning and/or management of execution of the missions may be automated according to predetermined rules and/or criteria.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned vehicle or vessel, the vehicle or vessel comprising:
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a plurality of load interfaces configured to removably couple energy loads to the vehicle or vessel to communicatively link the energy loads with the vehicle or vessel, the load interfaces comprising a first load interface; a plurality of supply interfaces configured to removably couple energy supplies to the vehicle or vessel to communicatively link the energy supplies with the vehicle or vessel, wherein the supply interfaces include a wherein the energy supplies are coupled with the energy loads to permit the transfer of power therebetween, the supply interfaces comprising a first supply interface; a communication interface configured to transmit information from and/or receive information to the vehicle or vessel; one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules, the one or more computer program modules comprising; a load module configured to obtain information related to the energy loads coupled with the vehicle or vessel via the load interfaces such that, responsive to the energy loads including a first energy load coupled to the first load interface, the load module is configured to obtain one or more of an identification of the first load, a load type of the first load, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first load; a supply module configured to obtain information related to the energy supplies coupled to the vehicle or vessel via the supply interfaces such that, responsive to the energy supplies including a first energy supply coupled to the first supply interface, the supply module is configured to obtain one or more of an identification of the first energy supply, a supply type of the first energy supply, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first energy supply; a mission interface module configured to obtain information related to a mission to be performed by the vehicle or vessel via the load interfaces; a plan module configured to automatically generate a mission plan for executing the mission obtained by the mission interface module based on the information related to energy loads obtained by the load module and the information related to energy supplies obtained by the supply module, wherein the mission plan identifies functions to be performed by the energy loads to execute the mission, identifies functions to be performed by the energy supplies to provide power to the energy loads sufficient to enable the energy loads to perform the functions identified for the energy loads in the mission plan, and wherein the plan module is configured to generate the mission plan in advance of commencement of execution of the mission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling energy loads and energy supplies on an unmanned vehicle or vessel, the method comprising:
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selectively and releasably interfacing a control system comprising one or more processors with a plurality of energy loads carried by the vehicle or vessel to enable communication between the energy loads and the control system, the energy loads comprising a first energy load; selectively and releasably interfacing the control system with a plurality of energy supplies carried by the vehicle or vessel to enable communication between the energy supplies and the control system, wherein the energy supplies are in coupled with the energy loads to permit the transfer of power therebetween, the energy supplies comprising a first energy supply; executing one or more computer program modules on the one or more processors of the control system to obtain information related to the energy loads via the interfaces with the energy loads, the information comprising one or more of an identification of the first energy load, a load type of the first energy load, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first energy load; executing one or more computer program modules on the one or more processors of the control system to obtain information related to the energy supplies via the interfaces with the energy supplies, the information comprising one or more of an identification of the first energy supply, a supply type of the first energy supply, or information indicating at least one power specification of the first energy supply; executing one or more computer program modules on the one or more processors of the control system to obtain information related to a mission to be performed by the vehicle or vessel; executing one or more computer program modules on the one or more processors of the control system to automatically generate, in advance of execution of the obtained mission, a mission plan for executing the obtained mission, wherein the mission plan is generated based on the obtained information related to energy loads and the obtained information related to energy supplies, and wherein the mission plan identifies functions to be performed by the energy loads to execute the mission, identifies functions to be performed by the energy supplies to provide power to the energy loads sufficient to enable the energy loads to perform the functions identified for the energy loads in the mission plan. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification