Methods for charging battery modules

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to methods for charging battery modules. An example method includes selecting enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in an energy storage system to reach a target voltage level. The method also includes connecting the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable. The method also includes sending a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus. The method also includes determining that a particular battery module of the connected battery modules has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module. The method also includes, in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit, adjusting one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module.

Description

METHODS FOR CHARGING BATTERY MODULESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 550,592, filed February 6, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in this description.BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrical vehicles, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, are often powered by battery modules. In some electrical vehicle systems, the battery modules are statically connected to the electrical vehicle during the manufacturing process such that the battery modules provide power until the charge of the battery module is depleted, at which point, the battery module may be recharged.

[0003] When some of the battery modules are depleted, in many instances, there is not a methodology to ensure that the battery modules are recharged efficiently . For example, regardless of whether a battery module is fully charged, partially charged, or completely depleted, all of the battery' modules may be connected to receive power from a source during recharging operations. As a result, power is wasted during the recharging of the battery' modules.SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure relates to methods for charging battery modules.

[0005] In a first example implementation, the present disclosure describes a method. The method includes selecting, by a controller of an energy storage system, enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in the energy storage system to reach a target voltage level. Based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery' modules, each selected battery' module has a lower total cost than any other battery' module of the poolof battery modules. The method also includes connecting, by the controller, the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable. The method also includes sending, by the controller, a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus. The first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery' modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery' modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request. The method also includes determining, by the controller, that a particular battery' module of the connected battery' modules has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery' module. The method also includes adjusting, by the controller, one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0006] In a second example implementation, the present disclosure describes a system. The system includes an energy storage system. The energy storage system includes a pool of battery modules and a controller communicatively coupled to the pool of battery’ modules. The controller is configured to select enough battery modules from the pool of battery modules to reach a target voltage level. Based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery module has a low er total cost than any nonselected battery' module in the pool of battery' modules. The controller is also configured to connect the selected battery' modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a pow er cable. The controller is also configured to send a first regulated pow er request to the ground support module via a first data bus. The first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and the ground support module provides the regulatedpower to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request. The controller is also configured to determine that a particular batten- module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery- module. The controller is also configured to adjust which batten- modules in the pool of battery- modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery- module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0007] In a third example implementation, the present disclosure describes a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions executable by a controller to perform operations. The operations include selecting enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in an energy storage system to reach a target voltage level. Based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery module has a lower total cost than any non-selected battery module in the pool of battery modules. The operations also include connecting the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable. The operations also include sending a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus. The first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request. The operations also include determining that a particular battery module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module. The operations also include adjusting which battery modules in the pool of battery- modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0008] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, implementations, and features described above, further aspects, implementations, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system, in accordance with exemplary' embodiments of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustration of a method, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustration of a method, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] Figures 5A-5C are illustrations of cost functions, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 6 is an illustration of a computing device, in accordance with exemplary' embodiments of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Disclosed herein are systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery modules. The disclosed systems and methods may used to uniformly charge all battery modules in a dynamic energy storage system, which may allow improved utilization of energy stored within the system.

[0016] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system 100, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, one or more components of the system 100 may be integrated into a vehicle, as illustrated in Figure 2. For example, one or more components of the system 100 may be integrated into a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft, which may use electric power to hover, takeoff, and / or land. In other embodiments, one or more components of the system 100 can be integrated into any other type of vehicle, such as a ground vehicle (e.g., an automobile), a sea vehicle (e.g., a boat), or a flying craft (e.g., an aerial, floating, soaring, hovering, airborne, or aeronautical aircraft, an airplane, a plane, a spacecraft, a helicopter, an airship, an unmanned aerial vehicle, or a drone).

[0017] The system 100 may include an energy storage system 102 and a ground support module 104. The energy' storage system 102 may include a pool of battery' modules 110 (e.g., a plurality of battery' modules 110). For example, the energy storage system 102 may include a battery module 110A, a battery' module HOB, a battery' module HOC, a battery' module 110D, a battery module 110E, a battery module 11 OF, and a battery' module HOG. Although seven (7) battery modules 110 are depicted in Figure 1, in other embodiments, the energy storage system 102 may7include additional (or fewer) battery modules 110. For example, in some embodiments, the energy storage system 102 may include five (5) battery modules 110. In other embodiments, the energy7storage system 102 may include forty (40) battery modules 110.

[0018] The energy storage system 102 may also include a controller 120 a memory 122. The memory 122 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions 123that are executable by the controller 120 to perform the operations described herein. The controller 120 may include a battery module monitor 130, a battery module selector 132, and a power request unit 134. In some embodiments, the battery module monitor 130 may include a temperature module 140, a voltage module 142, a state of charge module 144, and a cost function determination module 146.

[0019] In some embodiments, one or more components of the controller 120 (e.g., the battery module monitor 130, the battery module selector 132, and the power request unit 134) may be implemented using dedicated hardware. For example, one or more components of the controller 120 may be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or one or more field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. In some embodiments, one or components of the controller 120 may be implemented using software. For example, operations associated with one or more components of the controller 120 may be implemented by the controller 120 executing the instructions 123 stored in the memory 122.

[0020] As described herein, the controller 120 may be configured to monitor different characteristics of each battery7module 110 to determine one or more cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110. Based on the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110, the controller 120 may select different battery modules 110 to connect to a power cable 190 to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104. In particular, to ensure that the battery modules 110 are charged efficiently, the controller 120 may select the battery modules 110 with the low est cost functions 156 to receive the regulated powder from the ground support module 104.

[0021] In some embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to monitor a temperature 150 of each battery module 110A-110G, a voltage 152 of each battery module 110A-110G, or a state of charge 154 of each battery module 110A-110G. For example, the temperature module 140 may be configured to monitor the temperature 150 of each battery module 110A-110G, thevoltage module 142 may be configured to monitor the voltage 152 of each batten' module110A-110G, and the state of charge module 144 may be configured to monitor the state of charge 154 of each batten' module 110A-110G. In some embodiments, based on the temperature 150, the voltage 152, and the state of charge 154 of each battery module 110A- 110G, the controller 120 may be configured to determine one or more cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110A-110G.

[0022] For example, the cost function determination module 146 may determine one or more cost functions 156 associated with the battery module 110A based on the temperature 150 of the battery module 110A, the voltage 152 of the battery module 110A. and the state of charge 154 of the battery module 110A. Similarly, the cost function determination module 146 may determine one or more costs functions 156 associated with the battery module HOB based on the temperature 150 of the battery module HOB, the voltage 152 of the battery module HOB, and the state of charge 154 of the battery module 11 OB. The cost functions 156 associated with the other battery modules HOC- HOG may be determined using a similar analysis. Thus, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be based on the temperature 150 of each battery’ module 110. the voltage 152 of each battery module 110, and the state of charge 154 of each battery module 110.

[0023] In some embodiments, the state of charge 154 of each battery- module 110 may be estimated based on historical voltage data or historical current data for the battery module 110. In some embodiments, the cost functions 156 associated yvith each battery module 110 may be non-linear with respect to the voltage 152 of each battery module 110. In some embodiments, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be linear with respect to the state of charge 154 of each battery- module 110. In some embodiments, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be determined based on measured data over a course of a life of each battery module 110. In some embodiments, the controller 120 maybe configured to adjust the cost functions 156 associated with each battery' module 110 over time as each battery module 110 ages. For example, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery' module 110 may be adjusted based on data recorded during one or more aircraft flights.

[0024] In some embodiments, based on cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110A-110G, the controller 120 may be configured to select enough battery modules 110 from the pool of battery modules 110 in the energy storage system 102 to reach a target voltage level 160. For example, the battery module 110A may have a lower cost than the battery module HOB, the battery module HOB may have a lower cost than the battery module HOC, and the battery module 110C may have a lower cost than the battery module HO D. Starting with the battery module H0A that has the lowest cost, the battery module selector 132 may be configured to select enough battery modules 110 reach the target voltage level 160. For example, the battery module selector 132 may select the battery module 110A, the battery module 110B, the battery’ module HOC, and the battery module 110D.

[0025] After selecting the battery modules 110A-110D, the battery module selector 132 may be configured to connect the selected battery modules 110A-110D to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104 via the power cable 190. To illustrate, each battery module 110A-110G may be selectively coupled to receive regulated power form the ground support module 104 by a corresponding switch. To connect the battery modules 110A-110D to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104, the battery' module selector 132 may provide a control signal 192 to (1) activate switches coupled to the battery modules 110A-110D and (2) deactivate switches coupled to the battery modules 110E-110G. In response to activating the switches coupled to the battery modules 110A-110D, the battery modules 110A-110D may be connected to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104 via the power cable 190.

[0026] In some embodiments, the controller 114 may be configured to send a first regulated power request 170 to the ground support module 104 via a first data bus 194 of a plurality of data buses 194, 196. The first regulated power request 170 may indicate a first current level 180 for charging the connected battery' modules 110A-110D and a first voltage limit 181 that is greater than the target voltage level 160. In some embodiments, the first data bus 194 may include an ARINC 429 bus.

[0027] The ground support module 104 may be configured provide the regulated power to the connected battery modules 110A-110D via the power cable 190 based on the first regulated power request 170. The regulated power from the ground support module 104 may be based on a three-phase power supply 198 provided to the ground support module 104. Thus, the ground support module 104 may regulate the power from the three-phase power supply 198, based on the first regulated power request 170. to provide the regulated power to the connected battery modules 110A-110D. The connected battery module 110A-110D may be uniformly charged in response to receiving the regulated power form the ground support module 104.

[0028] In some embodiments, the ground support module 104 may be implemented using dedicated hardware. For example, one or more components of the ground support module 104 may be implemented using one or more ASICs or one or more FPGA devices. Further, in some embodiments, the ground support module 104 may be implemented using software. For example, operations associated with one or more components of the ground support module 104 may be implemented by the ground support module 104 executing instructions stored in memory of a computing device.

[0029] As the connected battery modules 110A-110D charge based on the regulated power from the ground support module 104. the battery module monitor 130 may monitor the connected battery modules 110A-110D to determine whether at least one of the connected battery modules 110A-110D has reached a maximum voltage limit. For example, the voltagemodule 142 may monitor the voltage 152 of each connected battety module 110A-110D to determine when one of the connected battery modules 110A-110D has reached a maximum voltage limit. In some embodiments, at some point in time after the connected battery modules 110 A- 11 OD begin charging, the battery module HOD may reach a maximum voltage limit. The voltage module 142 may monitor the voltage 152 of the battery' module HOD and may determine that the battery module HOD has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0030] In some embodiments, the maximum voltage limit may be a maximum voltage value (e.g., maximum pack voltage) associated with a connected battery module 110A-110D. Operating below the maximum voltage value associated with a battery module may ensure safe operation of the battery module. Safe operation may include, as examples, operating below the maximum voltage value to elongate the life of the battery modules 110, precluding overheating of the batter modules 110, and / or precluding failure of the battery modules 110. In other embodiments, the maximum voltage limit may be a predetermined voltage value less than the maximum voltage value.

[0031] In response to determining that the battery' module 110D has reached the maximum voltage limit, the battery' module selector 132 may be configured to adjust one or more battery' modules 110 in the pool of battery modules 110 that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104. In some embodiments, adjusting the one or more battery modules 110 in the pool of battery' modules 110 that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 may include disconnecting the battery module 110D from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module 104. For example, the battery module selector 132 may provide the control signal 192 to deactivate the switch coupled to the battery' module HOD to disconnect the battery module HOD from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module 104.

[0032] In some embodiments, adjusting the one or more battery modules 110 in the pool of battery modules 110 that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 may include determining that the pool of battery modules 110 includes one or more additional battery' modules 110E-110G that have not reached a maximum voltage limit. For example, the battery' module monitor 130 may determine that the battery' modules 110E-110G have not reached a maximum voltage limit. In some embodiments, the battery' module selector 132 may select a battery module 110E from the one or more additional battery' modules 110E- 11 OG. Based on cost functions 156 associated with each battery' module 110E- 11 OG of the one or more additional battery modules 110E-110G, the selected battery' modules 110E may have a lower total cost than any other battery module 11 OF, HOG of the one or more additional battery' modules 110E-110G. The battery' module selector 132 may also connect the selected battery module 110E to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 via the power cable 190. Thus, in the above embodiments, the battery module selector 132 may disconnect the battery' module HOD that has the reached its maximum voltage limit and connect the battery' module 110E with the next lowest total cost.

[0033] In some situations, there may no longer be a battery module 110 that has not reached a maximum voltage limit. For example, when the battery modules 110A-110D are connected, the remaining battery modules 110E-110G may have reached their maximum voltage limit. When the battery module 110D reaches its maximum voltage limit, in some embodiments, the controller 120 may determine that the pool of battery modules 110 does not include an additional battery module 110 that has not reached a maximum voltage limit. In these embodiments, in addition to disconnecting the battery module HOD from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module 104, the controller 120 may send a second regulated power request 172 to the ground support module via the first data bus 194. For example, the power request unit 134 may generate and the send the second regulated powerrequest 172 to the ground support module 104 via the first data bus 194. The second regulated power request 172 may indicate a second current level 182 for charging the connected battery modules 110A-110C and a second voltage limit 183. Thus, the ground support module 104 may provide the regulated power to the connected battery modules 110A-110C via the power cable 190 based on the second regulated power request 172.

[0034] The system 100 may enable a uniform charge of the battery modules 110 in the energy storage system 102. For example, the controller 120 may dynamically connect and disconnect different battery modules 110 to ensure that the battery modules 110 are uniformly charged. Additionally, the controller 120 may control the supply voltage and current provided to the connected battery modules 110 by sending power requests 170, 172 to the ground support module 104. For example, the energy storage system 102 may utilize two ARINC busses 194, 196 to communicate with the ground support module 104. This communication is used to establish when the charger is connected to the energy storage system 102 and the ground support module 104.

[0035] The energy7storage system 102 may use the ARINC busses 194, 196 to request a desired voltage and current to the ground support module 104, and may continue to use the ARINC busses 194, 196 to continuously adjust the voltage and current supplied by the ground support module 104 as the dynamic energy storage system 102 connects and disconnects the battery modules 110 to charge. As a result, the system 100 may enable the use of low capacity7chargers to charge a high-capacity energy7storage system 102.

[0036] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle 200, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the vehicle 200 may be a VTOL craft, which may use electric power to hover, takeoff, and / or land. In other embodiments, the vehicle 200 may be any other type of vehicle, such as a ground vehicle (e.g., an automobile), a sea vehicle (e.g., a boat), or a flying craft (e.g., an aerial, floating, soaring, hovering, airborne,or aeronautical aircraft, an airplane, a plane, a spacecraft, a helicopter, an airship, an unmanned aerial vehicle, or a drone).

[0037] In some embodiments, the vehicle 200 may include one or more propellers used to drive the vehicle, such as propellers 202, 204, 222, 224, 226, and 228 illustrated in Figure 2. Each propeller may be configured, for example, as tiltrotors, lift rotors, or any other type of rotors. In other embodiments, the vehicle 200 may include one or more turbine engines, one or more tires, one or more ski-structures, or the like instead of the one or more propellers used to drive the vehicle.

[0038] The first propeller 202 may be driven by a gearbox 206, which in turn may be driven by one or more motors such as propeller motor 208, propeller motor 210, and propeller motor 212. Similarly, the second propeller 204 may be driven by a gearbox 214, which in turn may be driven by one or more motors such as propeller motor 216, propeller motor 218, and propeller motor 220. In some embodiments, the motors may be electric motors.

[0039] The vehicle 200 also may include multiple lift rotors that can facilitate vertical takeoff and landing of the vehicle 200. For example, the vehicle 200 may include a lift propeller 222, a lift propeller 224, a lift propeller 226, and a lift propeller 228.

[0040] The lift propeller 222 may be driven by a gearbox 230, which in turn may be driven by a motor 232. The lift propeller 224 may be driven by a gearbox 234. which in turn may be driven by a motor 236. The lift propeller 226 may be driven by a gearbox 238, which in turn may be driven by a motor 240. The lift propeller 228 may be driven by a gearbox 242, which in turn is driven by a motor 244.

[0041] In some embodiments, each of the motors described above may include one or more respective motor controllers integrated therewith. For example, the lift motor 232 may haveone or more motor controllers 246 integrated therewith. Example motor controllers are described below.

[0042] In some embodiments, the various motors of the vehicle 200 may be electric motors driven by electric power provided by a plurality of batteries. As depicted in in Figure 2, the vehicle 200 may include the battery modules 110A-1 10G. In some embodiments, the battery modules 110 may be Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. Each battery module 110 may include a housing or enclosure that houses a plurality of battery cells arranged in rows and columns.

[0043] The battery modules 110 may be configured to store electric power, and provide electric power to the various electric motors when instructed by respective energy management systems of the vehicle 200. Particularly, in some embodiments, the vehicle 200 may have the controller 120 (e.g., an energy management system) that is in communication with the battery modules 110. The controller 120 may be configured as an electronic regulator to monitor and control the charging of the battery modules 110, as described with respect to Figure 1.

[0044] In some embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to measure voltages of the battery modules 110 and stop charging them when a desired voltage is reached. Further, the controller 120 may be configured to monitor parameters that affect life and / or performance of the battery modules 110 as well as ensure safe operation of the battery modules 110. Safe operation may include, as examples, operating below a temperature limit to elongate the life of the battery modules 110. precluding overheating of the battery modules 110, precluding failure of the battery modules 110, etc.

[0045] The controller 120 may monitor and control parameters of the battery modules 110. For example, the controller 120 may monitor and control main power voltage, battery or cell voltage, charge and discharge rates of the battery modules 110, temperatures of the battery modules 110 or their individual cells, health of the battery modules 110 or their individual cells,coolant temperature and flow for air or liquid cooling parameters of a cooling system of the battery modules 110 or their individual cells, etc. In some embodiments, the controller 120 and the battery modules 110 may be included in an energy7storage system, such as the energystorage system 102.

[0046] The vehicle 200 may further include multiple contactor control units (CCUs), such as CCU 260, CCU 262, CCU 264, and CCU 266, which may be electrically coupled to the battery modules 110, and may be in communication with the controller 120. In some embodiments, as illustrated in Figure 2, each CCU may be coupled to a respective battery module of the battery modules 110. A contactor may be an electrically-controlled switch used for switching an electrical power circuit. A CCU may control the actuation of the contactor to allow power flow to and from the respective battery module. For example, the controller 120 may control the power flow to and from the battery modules 110 based on power demand from the various electric motors, and accordingly may control the CCUs to enable power flow from particular battery modules 110 as desired.

[0047] The vehicle 200 may be configured to include a distributed electric propulsion system configured to provide the vehicle 200 with the required energy7to power the multiple propellers and lift rotors via an electric transmission system. Particularly, the vehicle 200 may include a redundant distribution module 268 in communication with the controller 120 and the redundant distribution module 268 may be electrically coupled to the battery modules 110 via the respective CCUs and may be configured to provide electric power, via transmission lines, to the multiple electric motors of the vehicle 200.

[0048] The controller 120 along with the redundant distribution module 268 may provide redundancy7in the vehicle 200 such that if, for example, one propeller or one lift rotor fails, power may be redistributed to other propellers or lift rotors to maintain operation of the vehicle200.

[0049] In some embodiments, vehicle 200 may further include a ground control system 280 communicatively coupled to the vehicle 200 and the CCUs 260, 262, 264, 266. Although Figure 2 illustrates a vehicle 200 with a ground control system 280, in some embodiments, vehicle 200 might not include a ground control system communicatively coupled to the vehicle 200.

[0050] In some embodiments, the ground control system 280 may be configured to send commands to the CCUs 260, 262, 264, 266 by way of a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the ground control system 280 may send commands that cause the CCUs 260. 262. 264, 266 to discharge at least one battery module. In some examples, the ground control system 280 may receive information and data from the vehicle 200 while the vehicle 200 is in motion. For example, an aircraft in flight may send flight data to the ground control system 280. In some examples, the ground control system 280 may send a command.

[0051] In some embodiments, the ground control system 280 may be implemented using dedicated hardware. For example, one or more components of the ground control system 280 may be implemented using one or more ASICs or one or more FPGA devices. Further, in some embodiments, the ground control system 280 may be implemented using software. For example, operations associated with one or more components of the ground control system 280 may be implemented by the ground control system 280 executing instructions stored in memory of a computing device.

[0052] Figure 3 illustrates a method 300. in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The method 300 may be performed to dynamically charge battery modules in a system, such as the system 100.

[0053] At a step 302, the method 300 may include selecting, by a controller of an energy storage system, enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in the energy storage system to reach a target voltage level. Based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery module has a lower total cost than any other battery' module of the pool of battery' modules. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may select enough battery' modules 110A-110D from the pool of battery' modules 110 in the energy' storage system 102 to reach the target voltage level 160. Based on the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 in the pool of battery' modules 110, each selected battery' module 110A-110D has a lower total cost than any other battery module 110E-110G of the pool of battery modules 110.

[0054] At a step 304, the method 300 may include connecting, by the controller, the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable. For example, referring to Figure 1. the controller 120 may connect the selected battery modules 110A-110D to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104 via the power cable 190.

[0055] At a step 306, the method 300 may include sending, by the controller, a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus. The first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery' modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level. The ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may send the first regulated power request 170 to the ground support module 104 via the first data bus 194. The first regulated power request 170 may indicate the first current level for charging the connected battery modules 110A-110D and a first voltage limit 181 that is greater than the target voltage level 160. The ground support module 104 may provide the regulated power tothe connected battery modules 110A-110D via the power cable 190 based on the first regulated power request 170.

[0056] At a step 308, the method 300 may include determining, by the controller, that a particular battery module of the connected battery modules has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may determine that the battery module 110D of the connected battery modules 110A-110D has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the battery7module HOD.

[0057] At a step 310, the method 300 may include, in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit, adjusting, by the controller, one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may adjust one or more battery modules 110 in the pool of battery modules 110 that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104.

[0058] In some examples of the method 300, adjusting the one or more battery modules 110 in the pool of battery modules 110 are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 includes disconnecting the particular battery module HOD from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module 104. In some of the method 300, adjusting the one or more battery modules 110 in the pool of battery modules 110 that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 further includes determining, by the controller 120, that the pool of battery modules 110 includes one or more additional battery modules 110E-110G that have not reached a maximum voltage limit.

[0059] In some examples, the method 300 may include selecting, by the controller 120, a second particular battery module 110E from the one or more additional battery7modules 110E- 11 OG. Based on cost functions 156 associated with each battery7module 110E- 11 OG of the oneor more additional battery modules 110E- HOG, the second particular battery module 11 OE has a lower total cost than any other battery module HOE- HOG of the one or more additional battery modules 110E-110G. In some examples, the method 300 may include connecting, by the controller 120, the second particular battery module HOE to receive the regulated power from the ground support module 104 via the power cable 190.

[0060] In some examples, the method 300 may include determining, by the controller 120, that the pool of battery modules 110 does not include an additional battery module 110 that has not reached a maximum voltage limit. In some examples, the method 300 may include sending, by the controller 120, a second regulated power request 172 to the ground support module 104 via the first data bus 194. The second regulated power request 172 may indicate a second current level 182 for charging the connected battery modules 110 and a second voltage limit 183, and the ground support module 104 may provide the regulated power to the connected battery modules 110A-110C via the power cable 190 based on the second regulated power request 172.

[0061] In some examples, the first data bus 194 may include an ARINC 429 bus. In some examples, the regulated power from the ground support module 104 may be based on a three- phase power supply 198 provided to the ground support module 104. In some examples, the connected battery modules 110A-110D may be uniformly charged in response to receiving the regulated power from the ground support module 104.

[0062] In some examples, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 1 10 may be based on a temperature 150 of each battery module 110, a voltage 152 of each battery module 110, or a state of charge 154 of each battery module 110. In some examples, the state of charge 154 of each battery module 110 may be estimated based on historical voltage data or historical current data for the battery module 110. In some examples, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be non-linear with respect to the voltage 152 ofeach battery module 110. In some examples, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be linear with respect to the state of charge 154 of each battery module 110. In some examples, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be determined based on measured data over a course of a life of each battery module 110.

[0063] In some examples, the method 300 may include adjusting the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 1 10 over time as each battery module 110 ages. In some examples, the cost functions 156 associated with each battery module 110 may be adjusted based on data recorded during one or more aircraft flights.

[0064] The method 300 may enable a uniform charge of the battery modules 110 in the energy storage system 102. For example, the controller 120 may dynamically connect and disconnect different battery modules 110 to ensure that the batten- modules 110 are uniformly charged. Additionally, the controller 120 may control the supply voltage and current provided to the connected battery7modules 110 by sending power requests 170, 172 to the ground support module 104. For example, the energy7storage system 102 may utilize two ARINC busses 194, 196 to communicate with the ground support module 104. This communication is used to establish when the charger is connected to the energy' storage system 102 and the ground support module 104. The energy' storage system 102 may use the ARINC busses 194, 196 to request a desired voltage and current to the ground support module 104, and may continue to use the ARINC busses 194, 196 to continuously adjust the voltage and current supplied by the ground support module 104 as the dynamic energy storage system 102 connects and disconnects the battery7modules 110 to charge. As a result, the method 300 may enable the use of low capacity7chargers to charge a high-capacity7energy' storage system 102.

[0065] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustration of a method 400, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0066] At a step 402, the method 400 may include connecting a maximum number of low-cost battery modules to reach a target voltage level. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may connect the maximum number of low-cost battery7modules (e.g., the batterymodules 110A-110D) to reach the target voltage level 160. In some embodiments, the target voltage level 160 may be 760 volts.

[0067] At a step 404, the method 400 may include setting a voltage limit to a first voltage limit and communicating the first voltage limit to a ground support module using an ARINC bus. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may set the voltage limit of the ground support module 104 to the first voltage limit 181 by sending the first regulated power request 170 to the ground support module 104 using the ARINC bus 194.

[0068] At a step 406, the method 400 may include charging the connected battery modules. For example, referring to Figures 1, the connected battery- modules 110A-110D may be uniformly- charged by regulated power from the ground support module 104.

[0069] At a step 408, the method 400 may include determining whether there is a battery module that has a voltage greater than a limit. If there is not a battery module that has reached a maximum voltage limit, the method 400 may proceed back to block 406. However, if there is a battery module that has reached a maximum voltage limit, the method 400 may include determining whether there is a replacement battery module available, at block 410. For example, referring to Figure 1, in response to determining that the battery module HOD has reached its maximum voltage limit, the controller 120 may determine whether there are replacement battery modules HOE-l lOG is available.

[0070] If there are replacement battery- modules available, at a step 410, the method 400 may include replacing the highest-cost connected battery- module with the lowest cost replacement module, at block 412. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may replace the 1batery module HOD with the batery module 11OE by disconnecting the batery module HOD from receiving regulated power from the ground support module 104 and connecting the batery module 110E to receive regulated power from the ground support module 104.

[0071] However, if there are not replacement bater module available, at block 410, the method 400 may include disconnecting the highest-cost batery module and adjusting the voltage based on the number of connected battery modules, at block 414. For example, referring to Figure 1, the controller 120 may disconnect the baten’ module HOD from receiving regulated power from the ground support module 104 and send the second regulated power request 172 to the ground support module 104 to reduce the amount of power provided to the connected batery modules HOA-HOC.

[0072] At a step 416, the method 400 may include determining whether there is only one connected baten,' module and if the maximum voltage has been reached by the one connected batery module. If there is only one connected batery’ module and the maximum voltage has been reached, the method 400 may indicate that charging is complete, at block 418. However, if there is more than one connected battery’ module or if charging is not complete for a connected batery' module, the method 400 may process back to block 406.

[0073] The method 400 may enable a uniform charge of the batery modules 110 in the energy storage system 102. For example, the controller 120 may dynamically connect and disconnect different batery modules 110 to ensure that the batery modules 110 are uniformly charged. Additionally, the controller 120 may control the supply voltage and current provided to the connected batery modules 110 by sending power requests 170, 172 to the ground support module 104. For example, the energy storage system 102 may utilize two ARINC busses 194, 196 to communicate with the ground support module 104. This communication is used to establish when the charger is connected to the energy’ storage system 102 and the ground support module 104. The energy storage system 102 may use the ARINC busses 194, 196 torequest a desired voltage and current to the ground support module 104, and may continue to use the ARINC busses 194, 196 to continuously adjust the voltage and current supplied by the ground support module 104 as the dynamic energy' storage system 102 connects and disconnects the battery modules 110 to charge. As a result, the method 400 may enable the use of low capacity' chargers to charge a high-capacity' energy' storage system 102

[0074] Figure 5 A illustrates an example cost function for a battery module as a function of SOC, in accordance with exemplary- embodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated cost function, the x-axis includes SOC of a battery module (e.g., measured in percent) and the y-axis includes the discharge cost of a battery module (e.g., measured in arbitrary units). The illustrated discharge cost values decrease as the SOC of the battery module increases, such that as a battery- module charges and the SOC increases, the cost to discharge the battery module decreases. In the example cost function illustrated in Figure 5A, the discharge cost decreases pseudo-exponentially from a cost value of 200 to a cost value of 0 between 0% SOC and 40% SOC and then is constant from 40% SOC to 100% SOC yvith a cost value of 0. Alternatively, in some examples, the cost function may decrease linearly or as a step-function. It should be understood that in various embodiments the discharge cost as a function of SOC may include different values or take different shapes.

[0075] Figure 5B illustrates an example cost function for a battery module as a function of voltage, in accordance yvith exemplary- embodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated cost function, the x-axis includes voltage (e.g., measured in Volts) and the y-axis includes the discharge coast of a battery- module (e.g., measured in arbitrary- units). The illustrated discharge cost value decreases as the voltage of the battery module increases. In the illustrated cost function, the discharge cost is constant when the voltage of the battery module is between 2.5 volts and 3.0 volts (e.g., with a cost value of 200), the discharge cost then decreases pseudo- exponentially from a cost value of 200 to a cost value of 0 when the voltage of the batterymodule is between 3.0 volts and about 3.6 volts, and the discharge cost is constant when the voltage of the battery' module is greater than 3.6 volts (e.g., with a cost value of 0).

[0076] Figure 5C illustrates an example cost funchon for a battery module as a function of temperature, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated cost function, the x-axis includes temperature of the battery module (e g., measured in degrees Celsius) and the y-axis includes the discharge cost of a battery' module (e.g., measured in arbitrary units). The illustrated cost value decreases linearly at a first slope from a cost value of 200 to a cost value of 30 between -53°C and -40°C. The cost value then decreases linearly at a second slope from 30 to 0 between -40°C and -30°C. Further, the cost value remains constant at 0 as the temperature increases from -30°C to 43°C. Additionally, the cost value then increases linearly from 0 to 200 at a third slope as the temperature increases from 43°C to 55 °C. Still further, the cost value remains constant at 200 as the temperature increases from 55°C to 60°C. In some examples, the cost function may include one or more parabolic, quadratic, exponential, or logarithmic portions.

[0077] In the examples illustrated in Figures 5A-5C, the discharge cost values range from 0 to 200. It should be understood that the discharge cost values may be in any acceptable range.

[0078] In some examples, the plurality of cost functions may be modified over time as the plurality of battery modules age. In some embodiments, the plurality of cost functions may be adjusted over time based on data recorded during dispatch of a vehicle, such as vehicle 200. In some examples, vehicle 200 may be an aircraft. Hence, the plurality of cost functions may be adjusted over time based on data recorded during one or more aircraft flights (e.g., flights of the vehicle 200 or flights of other vehicles within a fleet of vehicles associate with the vehicle 200). In some examples, the data recorded during the one or more aircraft flights may include discharge data or aircraft energy usage data.

[0079] Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram showing some of the components of an example computing device 600 in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, a controller (e.g., the controller 120 described with reference to Figure 1) may include the computing device 600. The computing device 600 may correspond to a computing device configured to perform additional functions (e.g., in communication with one or more other computing devices using a web browser and / or an application, such as the ground control system 280 shown and described with reference to Figure 1). In various embodiments, the computing device 600 may be a mobile computing device, a desktop computing device, a laptop computing device, a table computing device, or a wearable computing device (e.g., a smartwatch or a smart wristband). As illustrated in Figure 6, the computing device 600 may include a network interface 602, a user interface 604, a processor 606, and data storage 608. The network interface 602, the user interface 604, the processor 606, and / or the data storage 608 may be communicatively linked together by a bus 610 (e.g., an electrical interconnect defined on one or more printed circuit boards).

[0080] The network interface 602 may be used by the computing device 600 to communicate with other computing devices over one or more networks (e.g., the public Internet). In some embodiments, the network interface 602 may include a wired interface (e.g.. Ethernet). Additionally or alternatively, the network interface 602 may include a wireless interface, such as WiFi. Other interfaces may be included in the network interface 602 and are contemplated herein.

[0081] The user interface 604 may function to allow computing device 600 to receive input from and / or provide output to a user. As such, the user interface 604 may include inputs, such as a keypad, a keyboard, a touch-screen, a computer mouse, a microphone, a microphone jack, etc., and / or outputs, such as a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid-crystal display (LCD),a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a speaker, a speaker jack, headphones, a headphone jack, etc.

[0082] The processor 606 may include one or more general purposes processes (e.g., microprocessors) and / or one or more special-purpose processors (e.g., graphics processing units (GPUs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)). In some embodiments, for example, the processor 606 may include special-purpose processors capable of generating a machine-learned model and / or using a machine-learned model to perform analyses as described herein, such as determining a cost function for the plurality of battery modules 110 shown and described in Figure 1.

[0083] The data storage 608 may include one or more volatile and / or non-volatile memories. For example, the data storage 608 may include a RAM, a ROM, a hard drive, a solid-state drive, etc. In some embodiments, the data storage 608 may be partially or wholly integrated with the processor 606 (e.g., a level 1 (LI) cache or a level 2 (L2) cache within a central processing unit). The data storage 608 may include removable components (e.g., a flash drive) and / or non-removable components (e.g., a ROM integrated with a motherboard).

[0084] The processor 606 may be configured to execute instructions 618 (e.g., compiled or non-compiled program logic and / or machine code) stored in the data storage 608 to carry out the methods described herein. Hence, the data storage 608 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by the processor 606, cause the processor 606 to carry out any of the methods, processes, or operations disclosed in this specification and / or the accompanying drawings. In some embodiments, the processor 606 may use the application data 612 while executing the instructions 618.

[0085] In some embodiments, the instructions 618 may include an operating system 622 (e.g., an operating system kernel, device driver(s), and / or other modules) and one or more applications 620 (e.g., mobile applications). As described above, the processor 606 may access the application data 612 when executing the applications 620.

[0086] The applications 620 may communicate with the operating system 622 through one or more application programming interfaces (APIs). These APIs may facilitate, for instance, the applications 620 reading and / or writing the application data 612, transmitting or receiving information via the network interface 602, receiving, and / or displaying information on the user interface 604, etc.

[0087] Additionally, the applications 620 may be downloadable to the computing device 600 through one or more online application stores or application markets (e.g., using the network interface 602). However, application programs can also be installed on the computing device 600 in other ways, such as via a web browser or through a physical interface (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) port) on the computing device 600.

[0088] While many of the techniques and functions described herein may be performed by the processor 606 executing one of the applications 620, it should be understood that other ways for the computing device 600 to perform such techniques and functions are also possible and are contemplated herein. For example, some or all of the calculations may be performed remotely (e.g.. on a server computing device). Such an embodiment may be referred to as a "‘browser-based app” when the computing device 600 provides data (e.g., application data 612) to a different computing device for analysis using a web browser. Additionally or alternatively, such an interaction between the computing device 600 and another computing device may be performed using an API or a browser-based language (e.g., JavaScript).

[0089] In some embodiments, the ground support module 104 and / or the ground control system280 may include the computing device 600.

[0090] In accordance with this disclosure, the limits described herein in other contexts may be referred to as thresholds.

[0091] Additionally, any enumeration of elements or steps in this specification or the claims is for purposes of clarity. Thus, such enumeration should not be interpreted to require or imply that these elements, blocks, or steps adhere to a particular arrangement or are carried out in a particular order.

[0092] Further, devices or systems may be used or configured to perform functions presented in the figures. In some instances, components of the devices and / or systems may be configured to perform the functions such that the components are actually configured and structured (with hardware and / or software) to enable such performance. In other examples, components of the devices and / or systems may be arranged to be adapted to, capable of, or suited for performing the functions, such as when operated in a specific manner.

[0093] By the term "substantially" or "about" it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0094] The arrangements described herein are for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, operations, orders, and groupings of operations, etc.) can be used instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether according to the desired results. Further, many of the elements that are described are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete ordistributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination and location.

[0095] While various aspects and implementations have been disclosed herein, other aspects and implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and implementations disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0096] Implementations of the present disclosure can thus relate to one of the enumerated example implementation (EEEs) listed below.

[0097] EEE 1 is a method, the method comprising: selecting, by a controller of an energy storage system, enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in the energy storage system to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery module has a lower total cost than any other battery module of the pool of battery modules; connecting, by the controller, the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; sending, by the controller, a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determining, by the controller, that a particular battery module of the connected battery modules has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module; and in response to determining that the particular battery’ module has reached the maximumvoltage limit, adjusting, by the controller, one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module.

[0098] EEE 2 is the method of EEE 1, wherein adjusting the one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module comprises disconnecting the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

[0099] EEE 3 is the method of EEE 1 or EEE 2, wherein adjusting the one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module further comprises: determining, by the controller, that the pool of battery modules includes one or more additional battery modules that have not reached a maximum voltage limit; selecting, by the controller, a second particular battery module from the one or more additional battery modules, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module of the one or more additional battery modules, the second particular battery7module has a lower total cost than any other battery' module of the one or more additional battery' modules; and connecting, by the controller, the second particular battery' module to receive the regulated power from the ground support module via the power cable.

[0100] EEE 4 is the method of any of EEEs 1-3, further comprising: determining, by the controller, that the pool of battery modules does not include an additional battery' module that has not reached a maximum voltage limrt; and sendmg, by the controller, a second regulated power request to the ground support module via the first data bus, wherein the second regulated power request indicates a second current level for charging the connected battery modules and a second voltage limit, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the second regulated power request.

[0101] EEE 5 is the method of any of EEEs 1-4, wherein the first data bus comprises an ARINC 429 bus.

[0102] EEE 6 is the method of any of EEEs 1 -5, wherein the regulated power from the ground support module is based on a three-phase power supply provided to the ground support module.

[0103] EEE 7 is the method of any of EEEs 1-6. wherein, the connected battery modules are uniformly charged in response to receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

[0104] EEE 8 is the method of any of EEEs 1-7, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are based on a temperature of each battery module, a voltage of each battery module, or a state of charge of each battery module.

[0105] EEE 9 is the method of any of EEEs 1-8, wherein the state of charge of each battery module is estimated based on historical voltage data or historical current data for the battery module.

[0106] EEE 10 is the method of any of EEEs 1-9, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are non-linear with respect to the voltage of each battery' module.

[0107] EEE 11 is the method of any of EEEs 1-10, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are linear with respect to the state of charge of each battery module.

[0108] EEE 12 is the method of any of EEEs 1-11, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are determined based on measured data over a course of a life of each battery module.

[0109] EEE 13 is the method of any of EEEs 1 -12, further comprising adjusting the cost functions associated with each battery module over time as each battery' module ages.

[0110] EEE 14 is the method of any of EEEs 1-13, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery' module are adjusted based on data recorded during one or more aircraft flights.

[0111] EEE 15 is a system comprising: an energy storage system comprising: apool of battery modules; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pool of battery' modules and configured to: select enough battery modules from the pool of battery modules to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery' modules, each selected battery module has a lower total cost than any non-selected battery module in the pool of battery modules; connect the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; send a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first cunent level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determine that a particular battery module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery’ module; and adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery’ modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0112] EEE 16 is the sy stem of EEE 15, wherein, to adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module, the controller is configured to disconnect the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

[0113] EEE 17 is the system of EEE 15 or EEE 16, wherein, to adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery’ modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the groundsupport module, the controller is configured to: determine that the pool of battery modules includes one or more additional battery modules that have not reached a maximum voltage limit; select a second particular battery module from the one or more additional battery modules, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery' module of the one or more additional battery modules, the second particular battery' module has a lower total cost than any other battery module in the one or more additional battery' modules; and connect the second particular battery module to receive the regulated power from the ground support module via the power cable.

[0114] EEE 18 is the system of any of EEEs 15-17, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the pool of battery modules does not include an additional battery module that has not reached a maximum voltage limit; and send a second regulated power request to the ground support module via the first data bus. wherein the second regulated power request indicates a second current level for charging the connected battery modules and a second voltage limit, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the second regulated power request.

[0115] EEE 19 is a non-transitoiy computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, causes the controller to perform operations comprising: selecting enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in an energy storage system to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery' modules, each selected battery' module has a lower total cost than any non-selected battery module in the pool of battery modules; connecting the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; sending a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected batterymodules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected batten- modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determining that a particular battery module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery’ module; and adjusting which battery7modules in the pool of battery’ modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

[0116] EEE 20 is the non-transitory computer-readable medium of EEE 19, wherein adjusting which battery modules in the pool of battery modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module comprises disconnecting the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method comprising: selecting, by a controller of an energy storage system, enough battery modules from a pool of battery7modules in the energy storage system to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery' module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery' module has a lower total cost than any other battery' module of the pool of battery' modules; connecting, by the controller, the selected battery modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; sending, by the controller, a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determining, by the controller, that a particular battery module of the connected battery modules has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module; and in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit, adjusting, by the controller, one or more battery modules in the pool of battery’ modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the groundsupport module comprises disconnecting the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the one or more battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module further comprises: determining, by the controller, that the pool of battery modules includes one or more additional battery modules that have not reached a maximum voltage limit; selecting, by the controller, a second particular battery module from the one or more additional battery' modules, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery' module of the one or more additional battery' modules, the second particular battery' module has a lower total cost than any other battery module of the one or more additional battery modules; and connecting, by the controller, the second particular battery' module to receive the regulated power from the ground support module via the power cable.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining, by the controller, that the pool of battery modules does not include an additional battery' module that has not reached a maximum voltage limit; and sending, by the controller, a second regulated power request to the ground support module via the first data bus, wherein the second regulated power request indicates a second current level for charging the connected battery' modules and a second voltage limit, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the second regulated power request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data bus comprises an ARINC 429 bus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the regulated power from the ground support module is based on a three-phase power supply provided to the ground support module.

7. The method of claim 1. wherein, the connected battery modules are uniformly charged in response to receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are based on a temperature of each battery' module, a voltage of each battery module, or a state of charge of each battery module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the state of charge of each battery module is estimated based on historical voltage data or historical current data for the battery module.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the cost functions associated with each batterymodule are non-linear with respect to the voltage of each battery module.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the cost functions associated with each batterymodule are linear with respect to the state of charge of each battery module.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost functions associated with each batterymodule are determined based on measured data over a course of a life of each battenmodule.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the cost functions associated with each battery module over time as each battery module ages.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cost functions associated with each battery module are adjusted based on data recorded during one or more aircraft flights.

15. A system comprising: an energy storage system comprising: a pool of battery modules; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pool of battery modules and configured to: select enough battery modules from the pool of battery modules to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module in the pool of battery modules, each selected battery module has a lower total cost than any nonselected battery module in the pool of battery7modules; connect the selected battery7modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; send a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery7modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determine that a particular battery module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery module; and adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery' modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein, to adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module, the controller is configured to disconnect the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, to adjust which battery modules in the pool of battery modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module, the controller is configured to: determine that the pool of batten' modules includes one or more additional batterymodules that have not reached a maximum voltage limit; select a second particular battery module from the one or more additional batterymodules, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery module of the one or more additional batten- modules, the second particular batten- module has a lower total cost than any other battery module in the one or more additional battery- modules; and connect the second particular battery- module to receive the regulated power from the ground support module via the power cable.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the pool of batten- modules does not include an additional battery module that has not reached a maximum voltage limit; and send a second regulated power request to the ground support module via the first data bus, wherein the second regulated power request indicates a second current level for charging the connected battery' modules and a second voltage limit, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery- modules via the power cable based on the second regulated power request.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, causes the controller to perform operations comprising: selecting enough battery modules from a pool of battery modules in an energy storage system to reach a target voltage level, wherein, based on cost functions associated with each battery7module in the pool of battery' modules, each selected battery' module has a lower total cost than any non-selected battery' module in the pool of battery' modules; connecting the selected battery' modules to receive regulated power from a ground support module via a power cable; sending a first regulated power request to the ground support module via a first data bus, wherein the first regulated power request indicates a first current level for charging the connected battery modules and a first voltage limit that is greater than the target voltage level, and wherein the ground support module provides the regulated power to the connected battery modules via the power cable based on the first regulated power request; determining that a particular battery module connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module has reached a maximum voltage limit associated with the particular battery' module; and adjusting which battery' modules in the pool of battery' modules are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module in response to determining that the particular battery module has reached the maximum voltage limit.

20. The non-transitory' computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein adjusting which battery modules in the pool of battery' modules that are connected to receive the regulated power from the ground support module comprises disconnecting the particular battery module from receiving the regulated power from the ground support module.

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