eVTOL Power Bus Reconfiguration for Emergency Battery Reserve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft face challenges in ensuring continued safe flight and landing due to the reliability and redundancy of electrical power distribution systems, particularly in critical subsystems like control surfaces and avionics, especially when battery state of charge is low.

Innovation Solution

A power distribution system that includes controllable power distribution buses and DC to DC converters to selectively energize or de-energize power buses based on operational modes, prioritizing power to critical subsystems during emergencies and optimizing battery power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power is distributed to all subsystems during normal operation, then system functionality is complete, but power availability for critical subsystems decreases during emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower availability for critical subsystemsVSAvoidsystem functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power distribution system dynamically reconfigures bus energization states based on operational mode. During normal operation, all buses are energized to provide full functionality. During emergencies, the system transitions to selective bus de-energization to prioritize critical subsystems, enabling the system to adapt its power distribution characteristics to changing operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The power distribution system is segmented into multiple controllable buses (propulsion power bus, air-conditioning power bus, subsystems buses) that can be independently energized or de-energized. This segmentation allows selective power allocation to critical versus non-critical subsystems during emergencies, resolving the contradiction between maintaining full functionality and ensuring critical power availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If battery power is used to operate all systems, then operational comfort is maintained, but power reserve for critical operations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower reserve for critical operationsVSAvoidoperational comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

During emergency modes, the system applies partial action by de-energizing non-critical buses (air-conditioning power bus) while maintaining energization of critical buses (propulsion power bus, subsystems buses). This partial de-energization preserves battery power reserve for critical operations while accepting reduced operational comfort in non-essential systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If DC to DC converters are used to generate regulated low-voltage output from high-voltage battery, then power utilization efficiency increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower utilization efficiencyVSAvoidconverter system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

DC to DC converters are introduced as intermediary devices between the high-voltage battery and low-voltage subsystems. These converters enable efficient power utilization by regulating high-voltage battery output to appropriate low-voltage levels for flight-critical subsystems, accepting the trade-off of increased device complexity for significant gains in power utilization efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances safety by ensuring critical subsystems receive power during emergencies, maximizing battery power utilization, and maintaining aircraft operability even with low battery charge.

Implementation Method 1

at least one direct current (DC) to DC converter is employed to generate a regulated low-voltage output from a high-voltage battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Energy Transformation:

Data Source

PatentUS12552543B2Emergency energy reserve solution for battery electrified aircraft

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 WISK AERO LLC

AI summary

A power distribution control approach employs power distribution buses that are controllably energized and de-energized to control which aerial vehicle systems received power based on the applicable operational mode. A method of controlling power distribution in an electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft includes receiving an operational mode indication that identifies an operational mode. The operational mode is one of predetermined operational modes for the aircraft. Power distribution buses of the aircraft are controlled, based on the operational mode indication, to control each of the power distribution buses to be energized or de-energized.