IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,790,790
Granted Patent B2
US 11,790,790 · App. 17/575,416 · Granted Oct 17, 2023

Methods and apparatuses for generating an electric aircraft flight plan

Inventors: Steven J. Foland (Garland, TX); Nicholas Warren (South Burlington, VT); John Charles Palombini (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
G08G5/0034B64C29/00B64D27/24B64D43/00G05D1/102
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,790,790
App. No.
17/575,416
Granted
Oct 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for generating an electric aircraft flight plan, where the apparatus includes a sensor and controller. The electric aircraft includes a sensor that is configured to detect a position of an electric aircraft, generate a position datum, and transmit the position to a flight controller. The electric aircraft also includes a database of recommended flights. The recommended flight plan is displayed on a display in the electric aircraft.

Claims (36)

1. An apparatus for generating an electric aircraft flight plan, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor installed in an electric aircraft and configured to detect a position of the electric aircraft and generate a position datum based on the position of the electric aircraft;

a controller installed on the electric aircraft and communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to:

receive the position datum from the sensor;

determine a current phase of flight of the electric aircraft based on the position datum, wherein the current flight phase comprises fixed wing based flight, rotor based flight, or a transition of the phase of flight; and

generate a recommended flight plan based on the electric aircraft's current phase of flight and a location of a charging station, wherein generating the recommended flight plan occurs on the electric aircraft during flight and further comprises:

determining a maximally cost-effective flight plan as a function of the position datum and the current phase of flight, wherein determining the maximally cost-effective flight plan further comprises generating a route score as a function of a plurality of pairs of a route and a corresponding cost element; and

generating the recommended flight plan as a function of the maximally cost-effective flight plan; and

a display located within the electric aircraft, connected to the controller and configured to display the recommended flight plan to a pilot within the electric aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric aircraft includes an electronic vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the position of the electric aircraft includes an orientation of the electric aircraft relative to a reference element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the position datum includes a velocity of the electric aircraft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the position datum includes a phase of flight.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein generating the recommended flight plan further comprises generating the recommended flight plan as a function of a machine-learning model.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein generating the recommended flight plan includes generating the recommended flight plan based on analysis of at least a previous flight.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an autonomous function.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control at least a flight component as a function of a pilot input associated with the pilot located within the electric aircraft.

11. A method for generating an electric aircraft flight plan, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, a position of the electric aircraft;

generating, using the sensor, a position datum based on a position of the electric aircraft;

receiving, by a controller, a position datum from the sensor;

determining, by a controller, a current phase of flight of the electric aircraft using the position datum, wherein the current flight phase comprises fixed wing based flight, rotor based flight, or a transition of the phase of flight; and

generating, by the controller on the electric aircraft during flight, a recommended flight plan based on the electric aircraft's current phase of flight and a location of a charging station, wherein the recommended flight plan further comprises:

determining a maximally cost-effective plan as a function of the position datum and the current phase of flight, wherein determining the maximally cost-effective plan further comprises generating a route score as a function of a plurality of pairs of a route and a corresponding cost element; and

generating the recommended flight plan as a function of the maximally cost-effective plan; and

displaying, by a display located within the electric aircraft and connected to the controller, the recommended flight plan to a pilot within the electric aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electric aircraft includes an electronic vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position of the electric aircraft includes an orientation of the electric aircraft relative to a reference element.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position datum includes a velocity of the electric aircraft.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position datum includes a phase of flight.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the recommended flight plan further comprises generating the recommended flight plan as a function of a machine-learning model.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the recommended flight plan includes generating the recommended flight plan based on analysis of at least a previous flight.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an autonomous function.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising controlling, using the controller, at least a flight component as a function of a pilot input associated with the pilot located within the electric aircraft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2022
From: FOLAND, STEVEN J.; WARREN, NICHOLAS; PALOMBINI, JOHN CHARLES
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 059588/0255 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230222925A1 · Jul 13, 2023