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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 11787537 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Oct. 17, 2023

Filed:

Jul. 20, 2021

Hybrid power systems for different modes of flight

Applicant:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Inventors:

Pranay Sinha, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Damon Vander Lind, Alameda, CA (US);

Assignee:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Attorney:

Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

Primary Examiner:

Medhat Badawi

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); B64C 13/48 (2006.01); B64C 39/12 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64D 27/26 (2006.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); B64C 27/82 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64D 31/06 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.02); B60L 53/00 (2019.02); B64C 13/48 (2013.01); B64C 27/82 (2013.01); B64C 39/12 (2013.01); B64D 27/02 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); B64D 27/26 (2013.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64C 2027/8209 (2013.01); B64D 2027/026 (2013.01); B64D 2027/264 (2013.01);
Abstract

A hybrid power system includes a first power source that includes an internal combustion engine, a second power source that includes a battery, and a power controller. The hybrid power system is included in a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle that flies in a transitional mode between a hovering mode and a forward flight mode. The power controller selects one or more of the first power source and the second power source to power a rotor included in the VTOL vehicle, including by: during a landing, the power controller determines when to have the second power source provide power to the rotor, in order to supplement power provided to the rotor by the first power source, based at least in part on one or more flight state variables associated with a flight computer.

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