Aircraft Energy Module Distribution for Flight Plan Power Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft power distribution systems face challenges in efficiently managing and allocating electrical power to meet the varying demands of flight plans across a fleet of aircraft, particularly in determining the optimal distribution of replaceable energy modules based on location and flight requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for an energy management system that receives flight plan databases and inventory information, estimates energy demands, and generates a power source inventory distribution plan to allocate dischargeable energy modules to specific aircraft locations, enabling efficient power allocation and sharing between modules to meet flight demands and reduce replacement needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fleet of aircraft uses replaceable energy modules to meet varying power demands, then power allocation flexibility is improved, but tracking and managing module locations and inventory becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously tracks the location and status of each energy module through GPS coordinates and status indicators (charged, discharging, depleted). This feedback mechanism provides real-time visibility into module distribution across the fleet, enabling dynamic reallocation decisions while maintaining accurate inventory knowledge despite the complexity of multiple movable units
Solution Approach 2:
A central controller acts as an intermediary between the distributed energy modules and the fleet operations. The controller receives location data from modules, processes power demand requirements, and coordinates module allocation and redistribution. This intermediary manages the complexity by centralizing the tracking and decision-making logic, allowing flexible power allocation without requiring direct complex interactions between all modules
2Reliability
If energy modules are distributed across multiple aircraft locations, then power availability is improved, but the number of modules that need replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively identifies when energy modules are depleted or require replacement before they cause operational failures. By continuously monitoring module status and predicting replacement needs based on discharge cycles and capacity degradation, the system schedules replacements in advance, ensuring power availability is maintained while optimizing the timing and number of replacements required
Solution Approach 2:
When energy modules reach the end of their operational life or become depleted, the system systematically retrieves them from the fleet and replaces them with charged modules. The replaced modules are then sent for recharging or refurbishment, creating a recovery loop that minimizes the total number of modules needed in the fleet while maintaining continuous power availability across all aircraft
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an energy management system (100) for a fleet of aircraft (10, 110), can include receiving a desired flight plan database for the fleet of aircraft (10, 110), defining at least a desired flight plan for each of the fleet of aircraft (10, 110) and a location of each of the fleet of aircraft (10, 110), and generating a power source inventory distribution plan for the at least a subset of the desired flight plans for the fleet of aircraft (10, 110).