Inventors:
Thaddeus Benjamin Matuszeski - Sherman Oaks CA, US
Rolland Mitchell Koch - Simi Valley CA, US
Scott Garret Berman - Los Angeles CA, US
Mujahid Abdulrahim - Canoga Park CA, US
Assignee:
AeroVironment, Inc. - Monrovia CA
International Classification:
B64C 11/00
F02D 9/00
US Classification:
701 99, 701 2, 701 3, 244190
Abstract:
An electric power management system of a vehicle may interconnect a power plant, a propeller drive unit, and a battery via a bus. A controller may direct the operation of the power plant and the propeller drive unit. In a slow control mode, the propeller drive unit may react slowly to small throttle change requests. In the slow control mode, the propeller drive unit may draw power completely or substantially from the power plant. Upon a throttle request to rapidly change propeller drive unit speed more than a threshold amount, the controller may direct that the propeller drive unit quickly obtain the requested speed by drawing power required from the battery in excess of that being generated from the power plant. Subsequently, the controller may direct that the power plant increase power generation to maintain the propeller drive unit at the new speed, and recharge or float the battery.