The Boeing Company

Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation

Aurora Flight Sciences, a Subsidiary of the Boeing Company

James Perkinson

Robert J Atmur

Wenjiang Yu

Andrew S Babel

John F Merk

An apparatus is provided that includes a string of power sources and step-down circuitry. The power sources are connected in series to provide a first voltage rail at a first voltage, and the string of power sources is divided into power-source segments. The step-down circuitry electrically is configured to provide a second voltage rail at a second, lesser voltage. The step-down circuitry includes control circuitry configured to monitor states of charge of the power-source segments, and control selection of one of the power-source segments to deliver an output from which the second voltage rail is provided, based on the states of charge. One or more first electronic components are electrically coupled to the first voltage rail, and designed to operate at the first voltage. And one or more second electronic components are electrically coupled to the second voltage rail, and designed to operate at the second voltage.

Power transformation with power source balancing in an apparatus

A vehicle is provided that includes a basic structure; and coupled to the basic structure, power sources, a propulsion system and power distribution circuitry. The propulsion system includes a plurality of electric motors configured to power propulsors to generate propulsive forces that cause the vehicle to move. The power distribution circuitry is configured to deliver DC electric power from the power sources to the electric motors, the power distribution circuitry including a plurality of DC-to-DC converter assemblies configured to input the DC electric power from the power sources and deliver voltage-regulated outputs to the electric motors, a DC-to-DC converter assembly operatively coupled to multiple ones of the power sources and multiple ones of the electric motors, and the DC-to-DC converter assembly including a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) transformer with a single transformer core.

Fault-tolerant power distribution in a vehicle

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Winchester, MA, United States of America

James Perkinson