Patent ID: 11939075
Assignee: SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A power distribution system for a drone aircraft, comprising:
at least one electric battery electrically connected to a power management unit installed on a drone aircraft;
an electric propulsion system that produces vertical thrust, electrically connected to the at least one electric battery, wherein the drone aircraft performs Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) under power of the electric propulsion system;
an internal combustion propulsion system, separate from the electric propulsion system, configured to produce forward thrust independent of the electric propulsion system; and
an electric generator mechanically coupled to the internal combustion propulsion system and electrically connected to the power management unit through a mechanical switch configured to selectively disconnect the power management unit from the electric generator;
wherein, in VTOL flight, the mechanical switch is actuated into an open position, isolating the electric generator and the internal combustion propulsion system from the power management unit and at least one electric battery;
a first voltage regulator electrically connected to a first electric power supply and configured to draw power from the first electric power supply;
a second voltage regulator electrically connected to a second electric power supply and configured to draw power from the second electric power supply;
a power selection unit electrically connected to the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator, and configured to draw power from the first voltage regulator; and
a first set of electronic devices electrically connected to the power selection unit and configured to draw power from the power selection unit,
wherein the power selection unit is configured to draw power from the second voltage regulator in response to detecting a failure condition of the first voltage regulator.