On-board redundant power system for unmanned aerial vehicles
First Claim
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
- propellers to generate thrust to propel the UAV in air;
propeller motors, each propeller motor to rotate at least one of the propellers;
a power system comprising;
a battery assembly to provide power to the propeller motors;
a combustion engine configured to convert potential energy of a fuel stored on-board the UAV into kinetic energy, the combustion engine having;
an electric starting motor to start the combustion engine; and
a starter battery to provide power to the electric starting motor;
a generator, coupled to the combustion engine, to convert the kinetic energy from the combustion engine into electrical energy;
a navigation module to estimate a remaining flight time of the UAV to complete a journey; and
a power system controller to selectively start the combustion engine using the starter battery and the electric starting motor of the combustion engine upon determining that;
a charge level of the battery assembly is less than a threshold charge level;
orthe battery assembly is inoperable,wherein the power system controller is further configured to activate the combustion engine based at least in part on determining that the charge level of the battery assembly is insufficient to provide power for an entirety of the remaining flight time.
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Abstract
An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is configured with a redundant power generation system on-board the UAV. A redundant power system on-board the UAV can selectively utilize an auxiliary power source during operation and/or flight of the UAV. The power system on-board the UAV may include a battery and at least one auxiliary power source comprising a combustion engine. The combustion engine on-board the UAV may be selectively operated to charge the battery when a charge level of the battery is below a full charge level, and/or to power one or more propeller motors of the UAV.
142 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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propellers to generate thrust to propel the UAV in air; propeller motors, each propeller motor to rotate at least one of the propellers; a power system comprising; a battery assembly to provide power to the propeller motors; a combustion engine configured to convert potential energy of a fuel stored on-board the UAV into kinetic energy, the combustion engine having; an electric starting motor to start the combustion engine; and a starter battery to provide power to the electric starting motor; a generator, coupled to the combustion engine, to convert the kinetic energy from the combustion engine into electrical energy; a navigation module to estimate a remaining flight time of the UAV to complete a journey; and a power system controller to selectively start the combustion engine using the starter battery and the electric starting motor of the combustion engine upon determining that; a charge level of the battery assembly is less than a threshold charge level;
orthe battery assembly is inoperable, wherein the power system controller is further configured to activate the combustion engine based at least in part on determining that the charge level of the battery assembly is insufficient to provide power for an entirety of the remaining flight time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 19)
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4. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising:
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one or more propeller motors configured to rotate one or more propellers of the UAV; a navigation module configured to estimate a remaining flight time of the UAV to complete a journey; and a power system comprising; a battery to provide power to the one or more propeller motors; a combustion engine configured to convert potential energy of a fuel stored on-board the UAV into kinetic energy; a generator coupled to the combustion engine to convert the kinetic energy from the combustion engine into electrical energy; and a power system controller configured to selectively operate the combustion engine to provide the electrical energy from the generator to charge the battery or to power at least one of the one or more propeller motors, wherein the power system controller is further configured to operate the combustion engine based at least in part on determining that a charge level of the battery is insufficient to provide power for an entirety of the remaining flight time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method to operate a power system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
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providing power to one or more propeller motors of the UAV from a battery on-board the UAV; determining, by a power system controller of the UAV, that a trigger event has occurred; and based at least in part on the determining that the trigger event has occurred, operating a combustion engine on-board the UAV to charge the battery or power at least one propeller motor of the UAV, wherein the trigger event includes at least determining that a charge level of the battery is insufficient for providing power for an entirety of an estimated remaining flight time of the UAV. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification