Coaxial Engine-Motor Powertrain for UAV Energy Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UAV power systems face challenges in achieving high energy utilization and power redundancy, which affects flight safety and endurance mileage.
Innovation Solution
A power system where the rotor of the motor, external power receiver, and engine output shaft are coaxially connected, allowing the motor to function as both a generator for charging the battery and a motor for power output, with a control method that determines operation modes based on engine working conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the built-in engine unit with generator and battery is used, then reliability is improved, but energy utilization rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a motor to drive the propeller, as a generator to charge the battery, and the rotor serves as both a rotating component and a power transmission element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate generator and motor components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy utilization rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the motor and generator into a single motor unit, and further merges the rotor with the engine output shaft connection. This consolidation reduces the number of energy transformation stages from multiple (engine-generator-battery-motor) to fewer (engine-motor), thereby improving energy utilization while maintaining reliability through the redundant battery system.
2Loss of energy
If the engine directly drives the propeller, then energy utilization is improved, but power redundancy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The motor unit is designed to serve dual purposes: as a primary power source when operating as a motor, and as a backup power source when operating as a generator to charge the battery. This multi-functionality provides power redundancy while maintaining high energy utilization, resolving the contradiction between energy utilization and power redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system serves as a pre-prepared backup power source that can be charged by the motor unit when energy is available, providing cushioning against potential engine failures. This beforehand preparation ensures power redundancy without compromising energy utilization during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the battery is used to power other equipment, then versatility is improved, but endurance mileage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The motor unit can charge the battery during flight operations, allowing the battery to serve multiple equipment while simultaneously recharging itself. This self-service capability enables the battery to support various equipment without depleting the overall energy reserves, resolving the contradiction between versatility and endurance mileage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous charging of the battery during flight through the motor unit's generation capability, ensuring that the battery can continuously power various equipment without depleting the main energy reserves. This continuity maintains both versatility in equipment operation and endurance in flight duration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables high energy utilization and power redundancy, significantly improving flight safety and ensuring sufficient endurance and mileage for UAVs.
Implementation Method 1
a motor (30), wherein a rotor (32) of the motor (30) is coaxially connected to the engine output shaft (22)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention discloses a power system, a power system control method, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a UAV control method. The power system includes engine, motor, and battery. The engine comprises an engine body and an engine output shaft. The motor comprises a stator, a rotor, and a stator connector for connecting the stator and the rotor. The stator connector is arranged on the engine body, and the rotor is coaxially arranged on the engine output shaft. The rotor is used for coaxial connection with the external power receiver. The battery is connected to the motor, and the battery can be discharged to provide electric energy to the motor, or receive the electric energy output by the motor for charging. The power system of the invention sets the rotor of the motor, the external power receiver and the engine output shaft as coaxial connection, and the motor can be used as a generator to charge the battery by doing negative work on the engine output shaft, or as an electric motor to do positive work on the engine output shaft for power output, thereby realizing high energy utilization and power redundancy.