Autonomous system and method for redundancy management of multiple power supplies

1. A system comprising:

an output terminal configured to be coupled to an electrical load; and

a plurality of power supplies coupled in parallel, wherein a first power supply of the plurality of power supplies comprises a controller configured to:

monitor a current output of a downstream power supply and a current output of an upstream power supply, wherein the downstream power supply and the upstream power supply are distinct from the first power supply;

maintain a standby state of the first power supply in response to the downstream power supply providing current below a first threshold value;

transition the first power supply to a voltage regulation state in response to the downstream power supply providing current above the first threshold value, the voltage regulation state representing a state in which the first power supply regulates output current to the electrical load; and

provide a constant current output in response to the upstream power supply providing current above a second threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein

a respective power supply disposed between an adjacent downstream power supply providing a maximum current and an adjacent upstream power supply providing no current is configured to regulate a voltage delivered to the electrical load.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:

a proportional-integral (PI) regulator comprising an upper limit and a lower limit;

wherein the upper limit is configured to be set to a maximum current output between 0% and 100%; and

wherein the lower limit is configured to be set to a minimum current output between 0% and 100%.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the PI regulator is configured to increase the upper limit to 100% in response to the downstream power supply providing current above the first threshold value.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the PI regulator is configured to increase the lower limit to 100% in response to the upstream power supply providing current above the second threshold value.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power supply further comprises:

one or more relays configured to bypass the first power supply and couple the downstream power supply to the upstream power supply in response to a fault.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of:

broadcast a health status of at least one power supply to at least one other power supply; and

maintain health status information regarding the power supplies.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a controller associated with a power supply that is configured to be coupled in parallel with an upstream power supply and a downstream power supply;

wherein the controller is configured to:

vary current provided by the power supply in response to a demand from an electrical load;

monitor a current output of the downstream power supply and a current output of the upstream power supply;

increase a maximum current provided by the power supply in response to the downstream power supply providing current above a first threshold value; and

increase a minimum current provided by the power supply in response to the upstream power supply providing current above a second threshold value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the apparatus is configured to regulate a voltage delivered to the electrical load when the power supply is disposed between an adjacent downstream power supply providing a maximum current and an adjacent upstream power supply providing no current.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller comprises:

a proportional-integral (PI) regulator comprising an upper limit and a lower limit;

wherein the upper limit is configured to be set to a maximum current output between 0% and 100%; and

wherein the lower limit is configured to be set to a minimum current output between 0% and 100%.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the PI regulator is configured to increase the upper limit to 100% in response to the downstream power supply providing current above the first threshold value.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the PI regulator is configured to increase the lower limit to 100% in response to the upstream power supply providing current above the second threshold value.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

one or more relays configured to bypass the power supply and couple the downstream power supply to the upstream power supply in response to a fault.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of:

broadcast a health status of at least one power supply to at least one other power supply; and

maintain health status information regarding the power supplies.

15. A method comprising:

monitoring, by a controller, a current output of a downstream power supply and a current output of an upstream power supply, wherein the downstream power supply and the upstream power supply are distinct from a power supply comprising the controller, wherein the power supply, the downstream power supply, and the upstream power supply are part of a plurality of power supplies coupled in parallel to an electrical load;

maintaining a standby state of the power supply in response to the downstream power supply providing current below a first threshold value;

transitioning the power supply from the standby state to a voltage regulation state in response to the downstream power supply providing current above the first threshold value, the voltage regulation state representing a state in which the power supply regulates output current to the electrical load; and

providing a constant current output in response to the upstream power supply providing current above a second threshold value.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

increasing an upper power limit of the power supply to 100% in response to the downstream power supply providing current above the first threshold value.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

increasing a lower power limit of the power supply to 100% in response to the upstream power supply providing current above the second threshold value.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

bypassing the power supply in response to a fault.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising at least one of:

broadcasting a health status of at least one power supply to at least one other power supply; and

maintaining health status information regarding the power supplies.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein bypassing the power supply comprises coupling the downstream power supply to the upstream power supply using at least one relay.