Electric flight vehicle

Abstract

To improve safety during charging of an electric flight vehicle.SOLUTION: An electric flight vehicle 10, which flies by rotating a rotary wing 13 by electric power supplied from a battery 14, comprises output equipment 15 that performs output for calling attention outward from the electric flight vehicle 10 during the charging of the battery 14 from an external power source 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to powered flying vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that transmits attention-calling information when a person approaches an electric vehicle that is being charged and caution is required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-039776 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Electric flying vehicles such as eVTOLs are charged with high voltage currents such as 700 volts DC, so it is advisable to take measures to prevent people from touching the aircraft while it is charging. "eVTOL" is an abbreviation for electric vertical take-off and landing.

[0005] The purpose of the present disclosure is to improve safety during charging of an electric flying vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electric flying object according to the present disclosure is An electric flying object that flies by rotating rotors using power supplied from a battery, The electric flying vehicle is provided with an output device that outputs a warning signal to the outside of the electric flying vehicle while the battery is being charged from an external power source. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, safety during charging of an electric flying object is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an electric flying vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an electric flying object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] The configuration of an electric flying body 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] The electric air vehicle 10 is, for example, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known as an eVTOL, that obtains lift and thrust from one or more electric rotors. The cabin of the electric air vehicle 10 can accommodate one or more crew members. The electric air vehicle 10 is operated at least in part under VFR rules. "VFR" is an abbreviation for visual flight rules. The electric air vehicle 10 may also be operated under IFR rules. "IFR" is an abbreviation for instrument flight rules.

[0013] The electric flying vehicle 10 includes a main body 11, main wings 12, and one or more rotors 13. The main wings 12 are attached to the top of the main body 11. In addition to the main wings 12, various other components, such as doors, seats, and wheels, are attached to the main body 11. The main wings 12 and the tail fins attached to the rear of the main body 11 each have one or more nacelles. Each nacelle is equipped with a rotor 13 and houses a drive mechanism including a motor for driving the rotor 13. The rotor 13 corresponds to an electric rotor. The rotor 13 may be of a tilt type. The number of rotors 13 may be any number sufficient to obtain the required thrust. In this embodiment, there are four rotors 13 in total, two on each of the main wings 12 and the tail fin. The number of nacelles is the same as the number of rotors 13. The main wings 12 house one or more batteries 14 that supply power to the drive mechanism. Similar batteries 14 may also be housed in one or more nacelles. The electric flying vehicle 10 may further include known equipment such as avionics and actuators, electrical components such as wire harnesses, and equipment components such as air conditioning ducts and other piping. The avionics includes, for example, a computer, a flight recorder, and a radar.

[0014] The electric flying object 10 flies by rotating the rotor 13 using power supplied from the battery 14. Therefore, the battery 14 needs to be charged as needed. However, because the electric flying object 10 is charged with high-voltage current, it is desirable to take measures to prevent people from touching the aircraft during charging. In this embodiment, the electric flying object 10 further includes one or more output devices 15. The output devices 15 output a warning message toward the outside of the electric flying object 10 while the battery 14 is being charged from the external power source 20. Therefore, this embodiment makes it easier to prevent people from touching the aircraft during charging. As a result, the safety of the electric flying object 10 during charging is improved. For example, the output device 15 includes a light that flashes during charging. Alternatively, the output device 15 may include a display that displays a warning message such as "High-voltage charging!" during charging. Alternatively, the output device 15 may include a speaker that outputs a warning sound during charging. Alternatively, the output device 15 may include a speaker that outputs a warning message such as "High-voltage charging!" during charging.

[0015] The operation of the electric flying object 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The operation described below corresponds to the attention-calling method according to this embodiment. That is, the attention-calling method according to this embodiment includes steps S1 to S7 shown in Fig. 2.

[0016] In S1, the computer installed in the electric flying object 10 determines whether the battery 14 is being charged from the external power source 20. If it is determined that charging is in progress, step S2 is executed. If it is determined that charging is not in progress, step S1 is executed again.

[0017] In S2, the electric flying vehicle 10 controls the output device 15 by a computer to output a first stage of warning from the output device 15 toward the outside of the electric flying vehicle 10. The first stage of warning is, for example, a flashing light included in the output device 15, or a message such as "High voltage charging in progress!" displayed on a display included in the output device 15, or both.

[0018] In S3, the electric flying object 10 determines whether or not there is a person in the vicinity of the electric flying object 10 using a camera or human presence sensor mounted on the electric flying object 10. If it is determined that there is a person in the vicinity, i.e., if a person in the vicinity is detected, step S4 is executed. If it is determined that there is no person in the vicinity, i.e., if no person in the vicinity is detected, step S7 is executed.

[0019] In S4, the electric flying object 10 compares the distance between the electric flying object 10 and the person detected in S3 with a threshold value by a computer. If it is determined that the distance is greater than the threshold, step S5 is executed. If the distance is equal to or less than the threshold, i.e., if it is determined that the person is close to the electric flying object 10, step S6 is executed.

[0020] In S5, the electric flying vehicle 10 controls the output device 15 by a computer to perform a second-stage output from the output device 15 to alert the user to the outside of the electric flying vehicle 10. The second-stage output is, for example, a warning sound from a speaker included in the output device 15, a message such as "High voltage charging!" from a speaker included in the output device 15, or both. After S5, step S7 is executed.

[0021] In S6, the electric flying vehicle 10 controls the output device 15 by a computer to output a third stage of warning from the output device 15 toward the outside of the electric flying vehicle 10. The third stage of output is, for example, the output of a warning sound from a speaker included in the output device 15 that is more urgent than the second stage, or the output of a message from a speaker included in the output device 15 that is more urgent than the second stage, such as "High voltage charging in progress! Dangerous, do not approach!", or both. After S6, step S7 is executed.

[0022] In S7, the electric flying object 10 determines by a computer whether charging of the battery 14 from the external power source 20 is complete. If it is determined that charging is complete, the flow shown in Fig. 2 ends. If it is determined that charging is not complete, step S2 is executed again.

[0023] If the electric flying body 10 is an air vehicle for transporting passengers, step S4 may be executed only if a person is detected around the electric flying body 10 in S3 but the detected person is not a staff member such as a mechanic. That is, the second or third stage output may be performed only if a passenger is detected around the electric flying body 10. For example, when the electric flying body 10 detects a person in the vicinity but does not detect a staff terminal through short-range communication, the electric flying body 10 may determine that the person is not a staff member and perform the second or third stage output from the output device 15.

[0024] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, two or more blocks shown in the block diagrams may be integrated, or one block may be divided. Two or more steps shown in the flowcharts may be executed in parallel or in a different order, instead of being executed in chronological order as described, depending on the processing capabilities of the device executing each step, or as needed. Other modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 10 Electric flying vehicle 11 Main unit 12 Main wing 13 Rotor 14 Battery 15 Output Devices 20 External power supply

Claims

[Claim 1] An electric flying object that flies by rotating rotors using power supplied from a battery, An electric flying vehicle comprising an output device that outputs a warning signal to the outside of the electric flying vehicle while the battery is being charged from an external power source.

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