Subsurface eVTOL Power Assist Interface for Takeoff Battery Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current eVTOL aircraft face disproportionate electrical power consumption during takeoff, leading to oversized battery arrays that increase weight, cost, and reduce flight payload and range, while existing charging stations are large and obtrusive, making them unsuitable for use near aircraft takeoff and landing sites.
Innovation Solution
An external power assist system with a subsurface power source and a movable power transfer interface that can couple with the eVTOL aircraft's onboard batteries, providing supplemental power during takeoff and charging when grounded, and retracting to conserve space and weight during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If oversized battery arrays are included to compensate for disproportionate power consumption during takeoff, then the power availability during takeoff is improved, but the aircraft weight increases and flight payload/range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external power source as an intermediary system that provides supplemental power during takeoff operations. This external power source acts as a mediator between the ground infrastructure and the aircraft, allowing the aircraft to access additional power without carrying oversized batteries, thereby resolving the contradiction between power availability and aircraft weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The external power source is positioned and ready to provide power before the aircraft begins its takeoff sequence. By establishing the power connection in advance (preliminarily), the system ensures that supplemental power is available when needed most during the high-power consumption takeoff phase, without requiring the aircraft to carry excess battery capacity.
2Power
If oversized battery arrays are included to compensate for disproportionate power consumption during takeoff, then the power availability during takeoff is improved, but the flight range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The external power source serves as an intermediary that temporarily supplements power during the high-consumption takeoff phase only. This allows the aircraft to use smaller, more efficient batteries optimized for cruise flight, thereby extending flight range while still meeting the power demands of takeoff through the external power assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing excessive power capacity throughout the entire flight duration, the system applies partial power assistance only when needed during takeoff. This targeted approach allows the battery array to be sized appropriately for the majority of the flight (cruise phase), thereby optimizing flight range while still meeting peak power demands during takeoff.
3Power
If large charging stations are used to charge onboard batteries, then the charging capability is improved, but the charging station becomes obtrusive and unable to be stowed at landing surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into a stationary subsurface power source and a movable power transfer interface. This segmentation allows the power source to remain compact and stowable in the ground while the power transfer interface can be deployed as needed, resolving the contradiction between charging capability and station size.
Solution Approach 2:
The power transfer interface is designed to be dynamic - movable between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic capability allows the charging system to provide full charging capability when needed (interface deployed) while maintaining a compact, non-obtrusive profile when not in use (interface stowed), thereby resolving the contradiction between charging capability and station size.
Data Source
AI summary
An external power assist system for an eVTOL aircraft having one or more onboard batteries includes a subsurface power source and a power transfer interface electrically coupled to the subsurface power source. The power transfer interface is movable between various positions including a deployed position and a stowed position. The power transfer interface is configured to transfer power to the onboard batteries of the eVTOL aircraft in the deployed position. The power transfer interface is moved at least partially subsurface in the stowed position.