Electric vehicles with detachably coupled propulsion units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025145298-A1
Application number	US-202519016419-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2025
Priority date	Sep 28, 2020
Publication date	May 8, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle that includes a communications interface that exchanges, with a propulsion unit that includes a battery, a first propeller, and a local flight controller, one or more decoupling communications associated with decoupling the propulsion unit and the vehicle and outputs a motor control signal. The vehicle further includes a central flight controller that obtains a reduced thrust allocation map with the first propeller removed and generates, using the reduced thrust allocation map, a motor control signal for a second propeller that is not included in the propulsion unit.

First claim

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a communications interface that is configured to:
exchange, with a propulsion unit that includes a battery, a first propeller, and a local flight controller, one or more decoupling communications associated with decoupling the propulsion unit and the vehicle; and
output a motor control signal; and
a central flight controller that is configured to:
obtain a reduced thrust allocation map with the first propeller removed; and
generate, using the reduced thrust allocation map, a motor control signal for a second propeller that is not included in the propulsion unit.

2 . The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein the communications interface is configured to exchange the one or more decoupling communications over a wireless communications channel.

3 . The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

4 . The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle; and the VTOL vehicle further includes a pod, wherein the pod is coupled to a fuselage via a tether and is configured to be in contact with the fuselage during forward flight.

5 . The vehicle recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle further includes a docking point that communicates configuration information to the propulsion unit; and the propulsion unit configures itself as specified by the configuration information.

6 . A method, comprising:
exchanging, with a propulsion unit that includes a battery, a first propeller, and a local flight controller, one or more decoupling communications associated with decoupling the propulsion unit and a vehicle; obtaining a reduced thrust allocation map with the first propeller removed; generating, using the reduced thrust allocation map, a motor control signal for a second propeller that is not included in the propulsion unit; and outputting a motor control signal.

7 . The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the one or more decoupling communications are exchanged over a wireless communications channel.

8 . The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

9 . The method recited in claim 6 , wherein:
the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle; and the VTOL vehicle further includes a pod, wherein the pod is coupled to a fuselage via a tether and is configured to be in contact with the fuselage during forward flight.

10 . The method recited in claim 6 , wherein:
the vehicle further includes a docking point that communicates configuration information to the propulsion unit; and the propulsion unit configures itself as specified by the configuration information.

11 . A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
exchanging, with a propulsion unit that includes a battery, a first propeller, and a local flight controller, one or more decoupling communications associated with decoupling the propulsion unit and a vehicle; obtaining a reduced thrust allocation map with the first propeller removed; and generating, using the reduced thrust allocation map, a motor control signal for a second propeller that is not included in the propulsion unit. outputting a motor control signal.

12 . The computer program product recited in claim 11 , wherein the one or more decoupling communications are exchanged over a wireless communications channel.

13 . The computer program product recited in claim 11 , wherein the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle.

14 . The computer program product recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the propulsion unit includes a tiltrotor such that the vehicle includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle; and the VTOL vehicle further includes a pod, wherein the pod is coupled to a fuselage via a tether and is configured to be in contact with the fuselage during forward flight.

15 . The computer program product recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the vehicle further includes a docking point that communicates configuration information to the propulsion unit; and the propulsion unit configures itself as specified by the configuration information.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Parker Madeline Elliott
• Bowen-Davies Graham
• Vocke Iii Robert Donald

Classifications

• B64D27/24 Primary

  using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title

• B60L53/80

  Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries · CPC title

• B64C2211/00

  Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters · CPC title

• B60L2200/10

  Air crafts · CPC title

• B64C29/0033

  the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage · CPC title