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Method of managing a power demand for the operation of a pilotless aircraft equipped with an internal combustion engine

  • US 9,677,466 B2
  • Filed: 12/11/2015
  • Issued: 06/13/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Method of managing a power demand to assure operation of a pilotless aircraft, the aircraft comprising an internal combustion engine supplying a maximum principal power PM, which can vary, the method comprises the steps of, in the absence of an internal combustion engine failure:

  • a) collecting at least some of exhaust gases during an operation of the internal combustion engine;

    b) feeding a turbine with an energy of the exhaust gases collected;

    c) producing an electrical current using an electrical generator connected to the turbine to generate an electrical energy;

    d) comparing the maximum principal power PM supplied by the internal combustion engine with a demanded power PD at a time of the power demand;

    e) in response to a determination that the maximum principal power PM is at least equal to the demanded power PD for an operation of the pilotless aircraft, performing at least one of storing at least some of the electrical energy generated in at least one energy storage unit and utilizing said at least some of the electrical energy generated to assist the internal combustion engine by supplying an auxiliary power PA complementing a main power Pt developed by the internal combustion engine, with Pt less than PM, so that PA+Pt=PD;

    f) in response to a determination that the maximum principal power PM is less than the demanded power PD for the operation of the pilotless aircraft, utilizing said at least some of the electrical energy generated to assist the internal combustion engine to provide the demanded power PD or utilizing at least some of the electrical energy stored in said at least one energy storage unit to assist the internal combustion engine to supply the demanded power PD;

    g) in response to a determination that the demanded power PD is greater than the sum of the maximum principal power PM developed by the internal combustion engine and the auxiliary power that can be supplied by said at least one energy storage unit, modifying the operation of the pilotless aircraft to supply the demanded power PD in accordance with one of the steps e) or f); and

    h) in response to a determination that the pilotless aircraft is on the ground and the internal combustion is stopped, supplying the demanded power PD to the pilotless aircraft utilizing said at least some of the electrical energy stored in said at least one storage unit.

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