Peak power use with pilot monitoring
An aircraft having an electric motor coupled to a rotor and an instrument electronically connected to the electric motor and configured to communicate a time available value before a motor condition reaches a motor condition limit.
1. An aircraft, comprising:
an electric propulsion system comprising a motor coupled to a rotor; and
a controller connected to the electric propulsion system to monitor a rate of temperature change of the motor, to determine an estimated time available before the temperature will reach a high-temperature limit, and to communicate the estimated time available.
2. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising an instrument to visually communicate the estimated time available.
3. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising an instrument to audibly communicate the estimated time available.
4. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising a first instrument to visually communicate the estimated time available; and
a second instrument to audibly communicate the estimated time available.
5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is an anti-torque rotor.
6. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is an anti-torque rotor;
the electric propulsion system comprises a generator; and
the aircraft further comprises an instrument to visually or audibly communicate the estimated time available.
7. A method, comprising:
controlling an electric motor to fly an aircraft;
monitoring, during flight of the aircraft, a motor temperature and a rate of motor temperature change of the electric motor that is driving a rotor;
determining, based on the rate of motor temperature change, an estimated time available until the motor temperature reaches a high-temperature limit; and
communicating the estimated time available.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising initiating communicating the estimated time available when the motor temperature exceeds a trigger limit.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the communicating the estimated time available comprises visually displaying a countdown timer.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the communicating the estimated time available comprises audibly communicating.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising initiating communicating the estimated time available when the motor temperature meets a trigger limit, wherein the trigger limit is a time value.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising communicating the estimated time available to a pilot as a countdown timer.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the countdown timer in response to a change in the rate of motor temperature change.
14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising initiating communicating the estimated time available when the motor temperature meets a trigger limit and the motor temperature is increasing, wherein the trigger limit is a time value.
15. The method of claim 14 , comprising communicating the estimated time available to a pilot as a countdown timer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the countdown timer is a visual display.
17. The method of claim 15 , comprising communicating the estimated time available to a pilot audibly.
18. The method of claim 7 , wherein the aircraft is a helicopter and the rotor is an anti-torque rotor.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising initiating communicating the estimated time available when the motor temperature meets a trigger limit and the motor temperature is increasing, wherein the trigger limit is a time value.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising communicating the estimated time available to a pilot as a countdown timer, and
adjusting the countdown timer in response to a change in the rate of motor temperature change.