Power management method and system for an unmanned air vehicle

• US 9,725,169 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lemus Martin, Jose Luis, Mayan, Sergio Pereira, Ferreyra, Eduardo Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, JESS G
• Application Number:
  US14/447,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/14 Transmitting means between initiating means and power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/80 Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring
• 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 50/30 Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0275 using fuzzy logic only
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Power management method and system for an unmanned air vehicle, wherein the unmanned air vehicle comprises a plurality of power demanding subsystems and a plurality of power sources. The invention establishes mission oriented fixed parameters. A fuzzy logic power management unit, comprised in the system, automatically calculates and assigns priorities for delivering power to the subsystems. It also automatically calculates and assigns amounts of power delivered to each subsystem and automatically decides which of the power sources to deliver power to which subsystem. The fuzzy logic power management system calculates and assigns the priorities and loads in function of a plurality of internal variables, external variables and the mission oriented fixed parameters.

Claims

1. A power management method for an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) for managing electrical power distribution to a plurality of subsystems onboard the UAV during performance of a mission, the method comprising:

receiving a set of mission oriented fixed parameters for implementing the mission of the UAV;

determining a current state of charge of a plurality of electrical power sources onboard the UAV;

determining current electrical power requirements of each of the subsystems onboard the UAV;

measuring a plurality of internal flight variables of the UAV;

measuring a plurality of external flight variables of the UAV;

calculating and assigning, utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm, priorities for delivering electrical power to each of the subsystems onboard the UAV based on the current state of charge of the plurality of electrical power sources onboard the UAV, the current electrical power requirements of each of the subsystems onboard the UAV, the plurality of internal flight variables of the UAV, the plurality of external flight variables of the UAV, and the set of mission oriented fixed parameters for implementing the mission of the UAV;

calculating and assigning, utilizing the fuzzy logic algorithm, amounts of electrical power delivered to each of the subsystems onboard the UAV based on the current state of charge of the plurality of electrical power sources onboard the UAV, the current electrical power requirements of each of the subsystems onboard the UAV, the plurality of internal flight variables of the UAV, the plurality of external flight variables of the UAV, and the set of mission oriented fixed parameters for implementing the mission of the UAV;

deciding, utilizing the fuzzy logic algorithm, which of the plurality of electrical power sources deliver the electrical power to which of the subsystems onboard the UAV based on the current state of charge of the plurality of electrical power sources onboard the UAV, the current electrical power requirements of each of the subsystems onboard the UAV, the plurality of internal flight variables of the UAV, the plurality of external flight variables of the UAV, and the set of mission oriented fixed parameters for implementing the mission of the UAV; and

delivering the electrical power to the subsystems onboard the UAV based on the priorities calculated, the amounts of electrical power calculated, and which of the plurality of electrical power sources that deliver the electrical power to which of the subsystems onboard the UAV.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of internal flight variables of the UAV are selected from a group comprising:

an internal temperature of a propulsion system of the UAV;

an availability of the electrical power sources onboard the UAV;

or

any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality external flight variables are selected from a group comprising an air speed of the UAV, an outside air temperature, an atmospheric pressure, or any combination thereof.