Stacked approach for distributed hybrid propulsion with scalability and modularity

1 . A hybrid power and propulsion system of a vehicle, comprising:

an engine assembly operably coupled to a common bus via a first plug type, wherein the engine assembly comprises a motor-generator configured to generate electricity;

a storage element operably coupled to the common bus via a second plug type, wherein the storage element is configured to store the electricity;

a drive assembly operably coupled to the common bus via a third plug type, wherein the drive assembly is configured to receive the electricity from at least one of the engine assembly or the storage element to drive a propulsive fan; and

a controller operably connected to the common bus and comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to control a flow of the electricity between at least one of the engine assembly, the storage element and the drive assembly,

wherein the common bus is configured with at least two connectors of the second plug type to enable two or more storage elements, wherein each of the two or more storage elements is provided with a unique type of structure and has a unique set of operational capabilities and is sourced from varied and unique sources, to be removably connected at a same time to the hybrid power and propulsion system and at least two connectors of the third plug type to enable two or more drive assemblies each with unique structure and operational capabilities and each being sourced from varied and unique sources to be removably connected at a same time to the hybrid power and propulsion system,

wherein, during a configuring of the vehicle, the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine a system configuration based on connections to the common bus via the first plug type, the second plug type and the third plug type;

receive a mission input comprising one or more mission parameters;

based on the one or more mission parameters, determine whether the system configuration is insufficient, sufficient or excessive for the one or more mission parameters; and

indicate:

where the system configuration is determined to be insufficient, adding at least one drive assembly to the hybrid power and propulsion system, and

where the system configuration is determined to be excessive, removing at least one drive assembly from the hybrid power and propulsion system.

2 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein, in an event the system configuration is determined to be sufficient during the configuring of the vehicle, the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause a message to be presented via a display of an operator or maintenance computing device indicating that the system configuration is sufficient.

3 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein, in an event the system configuration is determined to be insufficient during the configuring of the vehicle, the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause a message to be presented via a display of an operator or maintenance computing device indicating that the system configuration is insufficient, wherein the message comprises an indication to add the at least one drive assembly to the hybrid power and propulsion system.

4 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein, in an event the system configuration is determined to be excessive during the configuring of the vehicle, the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause a message to be presented via a display of an operator or maintenance computing device indicating that the system configuration is excessive, wherein the message comprises an indication to remove the at least one drive assembly from the hybrid power and propulsion system.

5 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , further comprising a set of loads, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to control a flow of power to the set of loads and bi-directional flows of power across the common bus.

6 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein:

one of the two or more storage elements comprises a battery.

7 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a fan or rotor; and

a motor drive electrically interposed between the motor-generator and the common bus.

8 . A hybrid power and propulsion system according to the hybrid power and propulsion system of the vehicle of claim 1 , comprising:

the engine assembly as at least one auxiliary engine assembly;

the two or more storage elements are each one or more energy storage elements;

the two or more drive assemblies are each one or more drive assemblies; and

the common bus comprising:

at least one first plug of the first plug type to which the at least one auxiliary engine assembly is connectable;

second plugs of the second plug type to which the one or more energy storage elements is connectable; and

third plugs of the third plug type to which the one or more drive assemblies is connectable; and

a controller operably coupled to the common bus and configured to ascertain the system configuration from respective connections to the first, second and third plugs.

9 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , further comprising a set of loads,

wherein the controller is further configured to control a flow of power to the set of loads and bi-directional flows of power with respect to each of the first, second and third plugs.

10 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein:

the auxiliary engine assembly comprises:

a gas turbine engine; and

a motor-generator coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to drive at least one spool of the gas turbine engine in a first engine configuration and to generate electricity in a second engine configuration.

11 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy storage elements comprises a battery.

12 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy storage elements comprises a fuel cell.

13 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more drive assemblies comprises:

a fan or rotor;

a motor-generator coupled with the fan or rotor; and

a motor drive electrically interposed between the motor-generator and the common bus.

14 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the one or more drive assemblies comprises a pair of ducted rotors coupled to a motor-generator configured to drive the pair of ducted rotors.

15 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive mission parameters associated with a mission for a vehicle associated with the hybrid power and propulsion system;

determine that a system configuration includes excess components based on the mission parameters; and

cause at least one energy storage element or drive assembly to be removed from the hybrid power and propulsion system.

16 . The hybrid power and propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive mission parameters associated with a mission for a vehicle associated with the hybrid power and propulsion system;

determine that a system configuration is insufficient to complete the mission based on the mission parameters; and

cause at least one energy storage element or drive assembly to be added to the hybrid power and propulsion system.

17 . A method of configuring a vehicle propulsion system according to the hybrid power and propulsion system of the vehicle of claim 1 , the method comprising:

receiving mission parameters;

ascertaining the system configuration from respective connections of the engine assembly as an auxiliary engine assembly, the two or more storage elements which are each one or more energy storage elements and the two or more drive assemblies which are each one or more drive assemblies to first, second and third plugs of the first, second and third plug types of the common bus; and

determining whether the system configuration accords with the mission parameters.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

based on a determination that the system configuration accords with the mission parameters, causing a first message to be presented via a display of a computing device, the first message including an indication that the system configuration accords with the mission parameters; or

based on a determination that the system configuration does not accord with mission parameters, causing a second message to be presented via the display, the second message including an instruction to either add or remove a component to/from the vehicle propulsion system.