A method, system and drone for low power management of drone power supply

Abstract

This invention discloses a low-power management method, system, and drone for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The method includes: upon receiving a shutdown command, controlling the UAV in power-on mode to shut down and enter a discharge monitoring mode; detecting the power supply voltage data of the UAV in discharge monitoring mode, and when the power supply voltage data reaches a first preset voltage condition, controlling the UAV's power supply to switch to a power discharge mode; detecting the power supply voltage data of the UAV in power discharge mode, and when the power supply voltage data reaches a second preset voltage condition, controlling the UAV to switch back to discharge monitoring mode; and detecting the power supply voltage data of the UAV in discharge monitoring mode, and when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition, controlling the UAV to shut down. This invention, by designing a low-power management strategy for the UAV in the shutdown state, has the advantage of significantly improving the long-term storage capability of the UAV in the shutdown state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drone management technology, and in particular to a method, system and drone for low power consumption management of drone power supply. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid advancement of drone technology, its application areas are constantly expanding, becoming a highlight of modern society. Today, drone shows have become a common and fashionable activity in various places, bringing people a breathtaking visual feast. Especially when celebrating important festivals and holding grand events, drone swarm performances can create dazzling effects similar to fireworks, but are more environmentally friendly, reducing the pollution of traditional fireworks.

[0003] However, drone batteries are consumable components, especially when the drone is powered off, they are prone to over-discharge, which can cause damage and affect the lifespan of the drone battery. Currently, there is a lack of technology to improve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method, system, and drone for low-power management of drone power supply, aiming to solve the problem of the lack of intelligent management of drone batteries in the existing technology.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for low-power management of a drone power supply, comprising:

[0006] When a shutdown command is received, the drone in power-on mode is shut down and enters discharge monitoring mode.

[0007] The power supply voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode is detected, and when the power supply voltage data reaches the first preset voltage condition, the power supply of the drone is controlled to switch to the power discharge mode.

[0008] The power supply voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode is detected, and when the power supply voltage data reaches a second preset voltage condition, the drone is controlled to switch back to discharge monitoring mode.

[0009] The power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode is detected, and the drone is controlled to stop when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition.

[0010] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a low-power management system for a drone, comprising:

[0011] The power monitoring unit is used to control the drone to shut down and enter the discharge monitoring mode when a shutdown command is received.

[0012] The power discharge unit is used to detect the power voltage data of the UAV in the discharge monitoring mode, and when the power voltage data reaches the first preset voltage condition, control the power of the UAV to switch to the power discharge mode.

[0013] The switching unit is used to detect the power voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode, and when the power voltage data reaches a second preset voltage condition, control the drone to switch back to discharge monitoring mode.

[0014] The shutdown unit is used to detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode, and control the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition.

[0015] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention provide a drone, which integrates a low-power microcontroller, an onboard system, a flight control system, a BQ40Z50 chip, and a battery; the low-power microcontroller is connected to the flight control system through the onboard system, the low-power microcontroller is connected to the BQ40Z50 chip, and the BQ40Z50 chip is connected to the battery; the BQ40Z50 chip integrates the drone power low-power management system described above.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: it designs a low-power management strategy for drones in the power-off state, eliminating concerns about battery over-discharge, and significantly improving the long-term storage capacity of drones in the power-off state, ensuring battery durability and safety. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the low-power management method for drone power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a sub-process of the low-power management method for drone power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another sub-process of the drone power low-power management method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another sub-process of the drone power low-power management method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic block diagram of a low-power management system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic block diagram illustrating the logic of a low-power management method for drone power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of a drone provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0027] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0028] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 6 , Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the low-power management method for drone power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a low-power management method for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the method includes steps S101 to S104.

[0031] S101. When a shutdown command is received, the drone in power-on mode is controlled to shut down and enter discharge monitoring mode.

[0032] In this step, in response to the power-off signal sent by the operator through the handheld device, the drone is controlled to power off and enter the discharge monitoring mode. In the discharge monitoring mode, if a power-on signal is received from the handheld device, the drone can also be controlled to power on directly. That is, the discharge monitoring mode can be understood as a semi-dormant state.

[0033] S102. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode, and when the power supply voltage data reaches the first preset voltage condition, control the drone's power supply to switch to the power discharge mode.

[0034] In this step, the drone will continuously consume power in the discharge monitoring mode. Therefore, a first preset voltage condition is designed. When the power voltage data of the drone reaches the first preset voltage condition, it means that the drone has not been used for a period of time. Continuing to maintain the discharge monitoring mode will consume more power. Therefore, when the power voltage data reaches the first preset voltage condition, the drone's power is controlled to switch to the power discharge mode. In the power discharge mode, the drone will discharge quickly, thereby reducing the power consumption of the drone in the power-off state.

[0035] S103. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode, and when the power supply voltage data reaches the second preset voltage condition, control the drone to switch back to discharge monitoring mode.

[0036] In this step, to prevent the drone battery from being over-discharged, a second preset voltage condition is set. After the drone discharges rapidly in power discharge mode and reaches the second preset voltage condition, the drone is controlled to switch back to discharge monitoring mode and continue to monitor power voltage data.

[0037] S104. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode, and control the drone to stop when the power supply voltage data reaches the third preset voltage condition.

[0038] In this step, to further reduce the power consumption of the drone, a third preset voltage condition is set. After the drone reaches the third preset voltage condition in the discharge monitoring mode, the drone is controlled to stop. At this time, the shutdown can reduce the power consumption to the maximum extent. In this shutdown state, the power-on signal sent by the handheld device cannot start the drone. In this state, it can only be restarted by pressing the reset button, thereby greatly improving the long-term storage capacity of the battery.

[0039] In this embodiment, the low-power management strategy designed for the drone in the power-off state through steps S101 to S104 eliminates concerns about battery over-discharge and significantly improves the long-term storage capacity of the drone in the power-off state, ensuring battery durability and safety.

[0040] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2As shown, step S102 includes:

[0041] S201. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode;

[0042] S202. When the power supply voltage is greater than the first preset voltage value for a first preset duration, control the power supply of the drone to switch to power discharge mode.

[0043] In this embodiment, the drone in discharge monitoring mode needs to detect external power-on signals, resulting in continuous power consumption. However, prolonged detection wastes power, especially if no power-on signal is detected during extended periods. Therefore, a first preset voltage condition is set. Once the drone's power supply voltage reaches the first preset voltage condition, it switches to power discharge mode to discharge the battery, thereby reducing power consumption. Specifically, the first preset voltage condition can be a voltage value greater than a first preset voltage value for a continuous first preset duration; that is, when the power supply voltage is greater than the first preset voltage value (e.g., 16V, the specific time can be set according to requirements) for a continuous first preset duration (e.g., 96 hours, the specific time can be set according to requirements), the drone is controlled to switch to power discharge mode to discharge.

[0044] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, step S103 includes:

[0045] S301. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode;

[0046] S302. When the power supply voltage data is less than the second preset voltage value, control the drone to switch to the discharge monitoring mode, wherein the second preset voltage value is less than the first preset voltage value.

[0047] In this embodiment, the drone rapidly discharges in power discharge mode. During the discharge process, the drone's power supply voltage data is continuously monitored. When the power supply voltage data is lower than a second preset voltage value (e.g., 15.6V, the specific voltage value can be set according to requirements), the drone is controlled to switch to discharge monitoring mode. It should be noted that by setting the second preset voltage value to limit the drone's discharge, over-discharge of the drone battery can be avoided.

[0048] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, step S104 includes:

[0049] S401. Detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode;

[0050] S402. When the power supply voltage data is less than the third preset voltage value for a continuous second preset time period, control the drone to stop, wherein the third preset voltage value is less than the second preset voltage value.

[0051] In this embodiment, the drone continues to monitor power supply voltage data after switching back to discharge monitoring mode. The drone is then shut down when the power supply voltage reaches a third preset voltage condition. Specifically, the third preset voltage condition can be that the voltage is lower than a third preset value (e.g., 10.8V, which can be set according to requirements) for a continuous second preset time period (e.g., 24 hours). In this case, the drone is shut down, meaning it reaches its minimum power consumption in the off state and can only be restarted by pressing the reset button, thus greatly improving the battery's long-term storage capacity.

[0052] Therefore, after S401 to S402, the drone that has been stopped will be controlled to reset and restart and perform a self-test operation only when an external reset operation is performed on the drone (such as pressing the reset button). After the self-test operation is completed, the drone will be controlled to power on and enter the power-on mode.

[0053] In one embodiment, the drone power low-power management method further includes:

[0054] When the drone is in discharge monitoring mode or power discharge mode, a drone wake-up operation is triggered every third preset time interval. After the drone is woken up, it checks whether a power-on command has been received. If a power-on command is received, the drone is controlled to power on and enter the power-on mode. If a power-on command is not received, the drone is controlled to remain in discharge monitoring mode or power discharge mode.

[0055] In this embodiment, to further reduce power consumption in discharge monitoring mode or power discharge mode, instead of continuously monitoring external responses in real time, a third preset time interval is set. While meeting the low power consumption requirements in the power-off state, a wake-up operation is only performed once after the third preset time interval to detect whether an external power-on command has been issued. If a power-on command is received, the drone is controlled to power on and enter the power-on mode. If no power-on command is received, the drone is controlled to remain in discharge monitoring mode or power discharge mode. This achieves low power consumption while still responding to external power-on commands.

[0056] In one embodiment, the drone power low-power management method further includes:

[0057] When a standby command is received, the drone in power-on mode is temporarily shut down and enters standby mode; when a recovery command is received, the drone in discharge monitoring mode is restarted and enters power-on mode.

[0058] In this embodiment, the standby mode is generally used for short-term temporary shutdown, and can be quickly woken up and powered on again by a recovery command.

[0059] This invention also provides a low-power management system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which is used to execute any of the aforementioned embodiments of the low-power management method for UAVs. Specifically, please refer to... Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic block diagram of the low-power management system for drone power supply provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] like Figure 5 As shown, the UAV power low-power management system 500 includes: a power monitoring unit 501, a power discharge unit 502, a switching unit 503, and a shutdown unit 504.

[0061] The power monitoring unit 501 is used to control the drone to shut down and enter the discharge monitoring mode when a shutdown command is received.

[0062] The power discharge unit 502 is used to detect the power voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode, and when the power voltage data reaches the first preset voltage condition, control the power of the drone to switch to the power discharge mode.

[0063] The switching unit 503 is used to detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in the power discharge mode, and control the drone to switch back to the discharge monitoring mode when the power supply voltage data reaches the second preset voltage condition.

[0064] The shutdown unit 504 is used to detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode, and to control the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data reaches the third preset voltage condition.

[0065] The system employs a low-power management strategy for drones in the powered-off state, eliminating concerns about battery over-discharge and significantly improving the drone's long-term storage capacity in the powered-off state, ensuring battery durability and safety.

[0066] Please see Figure 7 This invention also provides a drone, which integrates a low-power microcontroller, an onboard system, a flight control system, a BQ40Z50 chip, and a battery. The low-power microcontroller is connected to the flight control system via the onboard system, and is also connected to the BQ40Z50 chip, which is connected to the battery. The BQ40Z50 chip incorporates the aforementioned drone low-power management system. The onboard system is used for communication with a ground station, which has a compartment for charging the drone.

[0067] In this embodiment, once the drone enters the hangar, the system can quickly initiate the charging process to ensure the drone rapidly recovers its energy and prepares for the next flight mission. The entire solution consists of four core components: a low-power microcontroller, a BQ40Z50 chip, an onboard system, and a flight control system. These four modules work together to achieve low-power and efficient management of the drone.

[0068] Specifically, the low-power microcontroller, as the core control unit of the drone, undertakes several key tasks. First, it receives and interprets power-on signals from the infrared receiver or button power-on / off signals, ensuring safe and reliable power-on for the entire drone. Second, the low-power microcontroller communicates with the BQ40Z50 chip to read key information such as battery level, voltage, and current in real time, and writes corresponding protection parameters based on this information to ensure safe battery use. Furthermore, the low-power microcontroller maintains close communication with the flight control system. It transmits battery status information to the main control chip and receives various commands from the main control chip, such as power-on / off commands. This two-way communication mechanism ensures the stability and flexibility of the drone system. Regarding battery management, the low-power microcontroller intelligently controls the discharge circuit to discharge the battery based on its temperature and voltage. When the battery temperature is too high or the voltage is too low, the low-power microcontroller will activate corresponding protection measures to prevent battery damage. Simultaneously, the low-power microcontroller can also enter a sleep state when the drone is not in use, further reducing energy consumption and meeting low-power requirements.

[0069] Specifically, the BQ40Z50 chip of this invention integrates a fuel gauge and multiple protection functions, providing a comprehensive and sophisticated solution for battery management. The chip's main functions can be divided into four core aspects: First, the BQ40Z50 chip performs comprehensive battery status monitoring to ensure battery safety and health during use. It can return key information such as battery health, voltage, current, voltage difference, and usage cycles in real time, providing users with detailed battery status data for precise battery management and maintenance. Second, the BQ40Z50 chip has powerful protection functions, responding quickly to abnormal battery conditions. Once potential risks such as overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemperature, or undertemperature are detected, the chip will immediately activate primary or secondary protection mechanisms, effectively preventing battery damage and ensuring safe operation by shutting down MOSFETs. Third, the BQ40Z50 chip also has a battery balancing function. It can intelligently balance the individual cells based on the current battery voltage difference, ensuring consistent voltage across all cells in the battery pack, thereby extending battery life and improving battery performance. Finally, the BQ40Z50 chip enters a sleep state after the flight control system is powered off to maintain low-power operation. This design not only saves energy but also extends the drone's standby time, allowing it to maintain optimal condition even when not in use for extended periods, ready for the next flight mission.

[0070] Specifically, the airborne system's main functions are divided into two core parts. First, the airborne system receives the start command from the low-power microcontroller and quickly activates the flight control system by pulling up the I / O port, putting it into working condition. This step ensures that the UAV can respond and start quickly when needed. Second, the airborne system also has a strong local area network (LAN) construction capability, establishing a stable connection with the ground station by periodically sending heartbeat packets and transmitting detailed flight data and status information to the ground station in real time. This communication mechanism ensures the ground station's comprehensive monitoring and management of the UAV swarm.

[0071] Specifically, the flight control system, as the brain of the drone, plays a crucial and complex role. On one hand, it communicates with the onboard system's I / O interface to ensure smooth data exchange and command execution between the two. This communication mechanism is fundamental to the normal operation of the drone. On the other hand, the flight control system also needs to maintain close communication with the low-power microcontroller. By receiving battery-related information from the microcontroller, the flight control system can understand the battery status in real time and make reasonable flight decisions based on this information, such as adjusting flight speed and path, to ensure the drone operates in optimal condition.

[0072] Specifically, the main functions of the ground station's hangar can be divided into two main aspects. First, the hangar provides a safe and stable landing platform for the drone. This platform is not only for takeoff and landing but also crucial for ensuring the drone's stability during these processes. Through a carefully designed landing platform structure, the drone can quickly and accurately complete takeoff and landing maneuvers, significantly improving flight safety and efficiency. Second, the hangar also has the function of charging the drone. After completing a flight mission, the charging equipment within the hangar automatically charges the drone without manual intervention. This automated charging method not only reduces labor costs but also ensures that the drone can be quickly fully charged when needed, ready for the next flight mission. Simultaneously, the charging equipment within the hangar also has intelligent management capabilities, automatically adjusting the charging current and voltage based on the drone's battery status to ensure battery safety and lifespan.

[0073] In summary, the drone solution described above, when applied to drone swarms, enables low-power operation of the entire swarm, with the application of a low-power microcontroller providing a solid foundation for this goal. Compared to traditional drones, this system, through its built-in battery design, completely eliminates the cumbersome operation of frequent battery insertion and removal, thus ensuring automatic battery capacity updates without manual intervention. Traditional battery replacement methods not only require preparing a large number of spare batteries in advance but also involve heavy battery storage and management tasks. The innovation of this application lies in its low-power power management method and system, which can automatically manage battery charging and discharging, greatly reducing the burden on manpower. Furthermore, another significant advantage of this invention is its long-term low-power operation capability. Due to the built-in drone battery and the efficient low-power management scheme of this invention, the drone can quickly start and complete flight missions at any time. Simultaneously, there is no need to worry about battery over-discharge during daily storage; the system's internal low-power strategy ensures battery durability and safety.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the system described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0075] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for low-power management of a drone's power supply, characterized in that, include: When a shutdown command is received, the drone in power-on mode is shut down and enters discharge monitoring mode. The system detects the power voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode, and controls the drone's power supply to switch to power discharge mode when the power voltage data reaches a first preset voltage condition; specifically, it includes: detecting the power voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode; and controlling the drone's power supply to switch to power discharge mode when the power voltage is greater than the first preset voltage value for a continuous first preset time period. The system detects the power voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode, and controls the drone to switch back to discharge monitoring mode when the power voltage data reaches a second preset voltage condition; specifically, it includes: detecting the power voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode; and controlling the drone to switch to discharge monitoring mode when the power voltage data is less than a second preset voltage value, wherein the second preset voltage value is less than the first preset voltage value. The system detects the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode and controls the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition. Specifically, this includes: detecting the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode; and controlling the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data is less than a third preset voltage value for a continuous second preset time period, wherein the third preset voltage value is less than the second preset voltage value.

2. The low-power management method for UAV power supply according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: When the drone is in discharge monitoring mode or power discharge mode, a drone wake-up operation is triggered every third preset time interval. After the drone is woken up, it checks whether it has received a power-on command. If a power-on command is received, it controls the drone to power on and enter the power-on mode. If no power-on command is received, it controls the drone to remain in the discharge monitoring mode or the power discharge mode.

3. The low-power management method for UAV power supply according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of detecting the power supply voltage data of the drone in the discharge monitoring mode, and controlling the drone to stop when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition, includes: In response to the reset operation performed on the drone, the system controls the stopped drone to reset and restart and perform a self-test operation. After the self-test operation is completed, the system controls the drone to power on and enter the power-on mode.

4. The low-power management method for UAV power supply according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: When a standby command is received, the drone, which is in power-on mode, is temporarily shut down and enters standby mode. When a recovery command is received, the control system restarts the drone, which is in discharge monitoring mode, and puts it into power-on mode.

5. A low-power management system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), characterized in that, include: The power monitoring unit is used to control the drone to shut down and enter the discharge monitoring mode when a shutdown command is received. A power discharge unit is used to detect the power voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode, and control the power of the drone to switch to power discharge mode when the power voltage data reaches a first preset voltage condition; specifically, it includes: detecting the power voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode; and controlling the power of the drone to switch to power discharge mode when the power voltage is greater than the first preset voltage value for a first preset duration. A switching unit is used to detect the power voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode, and control the drone to switch back to discharge monitoring mode when the power voltage data reaches a second preset voltage condition; specifically, it includes: detecting the power voltage data of the drone in power discharge mode; and controlling the drone to switch to discharge monitoring mode when the power voltage data is less than a second preset voltage value, wherein the second preset voltage value is less than the first preset voltage value. The shutdown unit is used to detect the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode, and control the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data reaches a third preset voltage condition; specifically, it includes: detecting the power supply voltage data of the drone in discharge monitoring mode; and controlling the drone to shut down when the power supply voltage data is less than a third preset voltage value for a second consecutive preset time period, wherein the third preset voltage value is less than the second preset voltage value.

6. A drone, characterized in that, The drone has a built-in low-power microcontroller, an onboard system, a flight control system, a BQ40Z50 chip, and a battery. The low-power microcontroller is connected to the flight control system through the onboard system, the low-power microcontroller is connected to the BQ40Z50 chip, and the BQ40Z50 chip is connected to the battery. The BQ40Z50 chip has a built-in drone power low-power management system as described in claim 5.

7. The UAV according to claim 6, characterized in that, The airborne system is used to communicate with a ground station, which is equipped with a bay for charging the UAV.

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