Power management method and system for an unmanned air vehicle

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.

1 . A power management system for an unmanned air vehicle, wherein the unmanned air vehicle comprises at least one onboard subsystem selected from:
 an instrumentation system, further including a plurality of antennas, a barometric altitude sensor, and a pitot sensor;   an autopilot system, further including control surfaces, inertial measurement units and autopilot controls;   a GPS;   an electronic speed control system;   a propulsion system;   a power system that comprises a plurality of power sources; or   any combination thereof; and   wherein the power management system includes a fuzzy logic power management unit connected to the at least one onboard subsystem and having a processor comprising hardware and software utilizing a fuzzy logic algorithm, the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprising decision-making functionalities to optimize at least one of an endurance of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of a mission and a speed of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission.   
     
     
         2 . The power management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning priorities to electrical loads of the at least one onboard subsystem to optimize the endurance of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission. 
     
     
         3 . The power management system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on at least one mission parameter for implementing the mission. 
     
     
         4 . The power management system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on at least one external flight variable of the unmanned air vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The power management system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on an internal temperature of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         6 . The power management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning priorities to electrical loads of the at least one onboard subsystem to optimize the speed of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission. 
     
     
         7 . The power management system according to  claim 6 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on at least one mission parameter for implementing the mission. 
     
     
         8 . The power management system according to  claim 6 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on at least one external flight variable of the unmanned air vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The power management system according to  claim 6 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the priorities based on an internal temperature of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         10 . The power management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning amounts of electrical power to deliver to electrical loads of the at least one subsystem to optimize the endurance of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission. 
     
     
         11 . The power management system according to  claim 10 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one mission parameter for implementing the mission. 
     
     
         12 . The power management system according to  claim 10 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one external flight variable of the unmanned air vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The power management system according to  claim 10 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on an internal temperature of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         14 . The power management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning amounts of electrical power to deliver to electrical loads of the at least one subsystem to optimize the speed of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission. 
     
     
         15 . The power management system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one mission parameter for implementing the mission. 
     
     
         16 . The power management system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one external flight variable of the unmanned air vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The power management system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for calculating and assigning the amounts of electrical power to deliver to the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on an internal temperature of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         18 . The power management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for determining which of the power sources are used to supply electrical loads of the at least one subsystem to optimize the speed of the unmanned air vehicle during performance of the mission. 
     
     
         19 . The power management system according to  claim 18 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for determining which of the power sources are used to supply the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one mission parameter for implementing the mission. 
     
     
         20 . The power management system according to  claim 18 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for determining which of the power sources are used to supply the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on at least one external flight variable of the unmanned air vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The power management system according to  claim 18 , wherein the fuzzy logic power management unit further comprises decision-making functionalities for determining which of the power sources are used to supply the electrical loads of the at least one subsystem based on an internal temperature of the propulsion system.