IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,562,653
Granted Patent B1
US 11,562,653 · App. 17/528,673 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Systems and methods for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft

Inventors: Steven J. Foland (South Burlington, VT); Lochie Ferrier (South Burlington, VT); Nick Warren (South Burlington, VT); John Palombini (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
G08G5/0039B60L58/24B64C29/0091B64C39/024G08G5/0069G08G5/0091B60L2200/10B60L2260/56B64C2201/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,562,653
App. No.
17/528,673
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

In an aspect of the present disclosure is a system for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft including a battery pack configured to provide electrical power to the electric aircraft; a sensor configured to detect at least a temperature metric of the battery pack and generate a temperature datum based on the at least a temperature metric; a controller communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to: receive the temperature datum from the sensor; and re-route the electric aircraft based on the temperature datum.

Claims (29)

1. A system for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft, comprising:

a battery pack configured to provide electrical power to the electric aircraft;

a sensor configured to detect at least a temperature metric of the battery pack and generate a temperature datum based on the at least a temperature metric;

a controller communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to:

receive the temperature datum from the sensor; and

re-route the electric aircraft, during a flight maneuver, based on the temperature datum.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to re-route the electric aircraft if the temperature datum indicates a temperature higher than a threshold temperature.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to re-route the electric aircraft if the temperature datum indicates a rate of temperature change greater than a threshold rate of temperature change.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine if a temperature will exceed a threshold temperature before a destination is reached based on temperature datum, and wherein the controller is configured to re-route the electric aircraft if the temperature will exceed the threshold temperature before the destination.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to re-route the electric aircraft to a landing site.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to select the landing site.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to access a database of locations for possible landing sites.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the selection of the landing site is based on the location of the electric aircraft.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the selection of the landing site is based on the temperature datum.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric aircraft is an electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

11. A method for implementing a system for in-flight re-routing of an electric aircraft, comprising:

receiving, at a controller from a sensor installed in the electric aircraft, a temperature datum based on at least a temperature metric of a battery pack; and

re-routing the electric aircraft, during a flight maneuver, based on the temperature datum.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein re-routing the electric aircraft is based on whether the temperature datum indicates a temperature higher than a threshold temperature.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein re-routing the electric aircraft is based on whether the temperature datum indicates a rate of temperature change greater than a threshold rate of temperature change.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining, based on the temperature datum, whether a temperature of the battery pack will exceed a threshold temperature before the electric aircraft reaches a destination; and

re-routing the electric aircraft if the temperature will exceed the threshold temperature before the destination.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to re-route the electric aircraft to a landing site.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting a landing site.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to access a database of locations for possible landing sites.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selection of the landing site is based on the location of the electric aircraft.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selection of the landing site is based on the temperature datum.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electric aircraft is an eVTOL aircraft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: FOLAND, STEVEN J.; FERRIER, LOCHIE; WARREN, NICK; PALOMBINI, JOHN
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 059959/0531 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,315,375 US 12,709,410