Adaptive power supply system and operation method thereof

An adaptive power supply system for an unmanned vehicle and an operation method thereof are provided. The adaptive power supply system includes an adaptive power supply, a battery, a sensing circuit, and a power dispatch controller. The output terminal of the adaptive power supply powers the load circuit of the unmanned vehicle. The battery is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply. The sensing circuit senses the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply and the output of the battery. The power dispatch controller controls the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply according to the sensing result of the sensing circuit. The power dispatch controller determines whether one or both of the adaptive power supply and the battery power the load circuit by adjusting the output of the adaptive power supply.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an adaptive power supply system and an operation method thereof.

BACKGROUND

The power source of a typical drone is a battery. The flight time of the drone depends on the capacity of the battery. However, the capacity of the battery is limited, and when the drone requires a longer flight time, the battery may have difficulty providing sufficient power. To extend the flight time of the drone, a tethered drone is another option. A ground device may provide power to the tethered drone through a power cable, and therefore the flight time of the tethered drone may be significantly extended.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides an adaptive power supply system and an operation method thereof to effectively reduce the wire loss of a cable.

An embodiment of the disclosure provides an adaptive power supply system for an unmanned vehicle. The adaptive power supply system includes an adaptive power supply, a battery, a sensing circuit, and a power dispatch controller. The adaptive power supply disposed in the unmanned vehicle receives source power. The output terminal of the adaptive power supply powers the load circuit of the unmanned vehicle. The battery disposed in the unmanned vehicle is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply. The sensing circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply to sense the output of the adaptive power supply. The sensing circuit is coupled to the battery to sense the output of the battery. The power dispatch controller is coupled to the sensing circuit and the adaptive power supply. The power dispatch controller controls the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply according to the sensing result of the sensing circuit. The power dispatch controller determines, by adjusting the output of the adaptive power supply, whether the adaptive power supply powers the load circuit, the battery powers the load circuit, or the battery and the adaptive power supply power the load circuit together.

An embodiment of the disclosure provides an operation method of an adaptive power supply system for an unmanned vehicle. The operation method includes the following steps. Source power is received by an adaptive power supply disposed in an unmanned vehicle. The load circuit of the unmanned vehicle is powered by the output terminal of the adaptive power supply. The output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply is sensed by the sensing circuit. The output of the battery disposed in the unmanned vehicle is sensed by the sensing circuit, wherein the battery is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply. The output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply is controlled by the power dispatch controller according to the sensing result of the sensing circuit. In particular, the power dispatch controller determines, by adjusting the output of the adaptive power supply, whether the adaptive power supply powers the load circuit, the battery powers the load circuit, or the battery and the adaptive power supply power the load circuit together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The term “coupled to (or connected to)” used in the entire text of the specification of the present application (including claims) may refer to any direct or indirect connecting means. For instance, if the text describes a first device is coupled to (or connected to) a second device, then it should be understood that the first device may be directly connected to the second device, or the first device may be indirectly connected to the second device through other devices or certain connecting means. Moreover, when applicable, devices/components/steps having the same reference numerals in figures and embodiments represent the same or similar parts. Elements/components/steps having the same reference numerals or having the same terminology in different embodiments may be cross-referenced.

In some embodiments, inside of the tethered drone is not provided with a power supply. The required power of the fly control system, electric speed control (ESD) circuit, motor, and other load circuits/elements of the tethered drone is provided directly by the power cable. Therefore, a ground device provides direct current (DC) power to the tethered drone through a power cable. A longer power cable has longer parasitic resistance. For example, if the resistance value of a 100-meter power cable is 15 ohms and the power and voltage required for the tethered drone are respectively 600 watts and 24 volts, then the current of the DC power transmitted by the power cable is 600/24=25 amps, resulting in a voltage drop of 15*25-375 volts for the power cable. Therefore, the voltage required by the ground device to supply DC power to the power cable is 375+24=399 volts. As a result, the wire loss of the power cable is 375*25=9375 watts. This is a considerable wire loss.

Moreover, if the ground device does not perform tension control on the power cable, the power cable may be entangled (knotted).

FIG. 1is a circuit block diagram of an adaptive power supply system shown according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The adaptive power supply system shown inFIG. 1is suitable for an unmanned vehicle100. Based on design requirements, the unmanned vehicle100is, for example, a drone, an unmanned vehicle, a robot, or other electromechanical devices. The drone may be a tethered drone or other types of drones. The unmanned vehicle100is provided with the adaptive power supply system shown inFIG. 1and other elements. In the case of the drone, the unmanned vehicle may also be provided with a motor, a fly control system, an electric speed control (ESD) circuit, and/or other elements. Depending on the design requirements, the motor may drive a mechanical energy mechanism of the unmanned vehicle, such as a propeller, a wheel, a mechanical foot, or other mechanisms.

The adaptive power supply system shown inFIG. 1includes a load circuit110, a sensing circuit120, a power dispatch controller130, an adaptive power supply140, and a battery150. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the load circuit110, the sensing circuit120, the power dispatch controller130, the adaptive power supply140, and the battery150are disposed in the unmanned vehicle100. The load circuit110may include a motor, a flight control system, an ESD circuit, and/or other electrical elements, depending on design requirements.

A first end of the cable10is coupled to an input terminal of the adaptive power supply140. A second end of the cable10is coupled to an output terminal of a power supply device20. In an embodiment, the cable10includes a power cable, and the power supply device20may provide source power SP to the adaptive power supply140through the cable10. For example, in some embodiments, the power supply device20may provide an alternating current (AC) high-voltage power (the source power SP) to the unmanned vehicle100through the cable10. In some other embodiments, the power supply device20may provide a direct current (DC) high-voltage power (the source power SP) to the unmanned vehicle100through the cable10. The adaptive power supply140may adjust/convert the voltage of the source power SP into a certain voltage level to match the rated voltage of the load circuit110of the unmanned vehicle100. The output terminal of the adaptive power supply140is coupled to the input power terminal of the load circuit110to power the load circuit110. The present embodiment does not limit the implementation of the adaptive power supply140. For example, in some embodiments, the adaptive power supply140may be an AC-to-DC converter or other power conversion circuits. In some other embodiments, the adaptive power supply140may be a DC-to-DC converter or other power conversion circuits. For example, depending on design requirements, the adaptive power supply140may be a switching regulator or other voltage stabilizing circuits.

The power supply device20may provide an AC high-voltage power (the source power SP, such as an AC voltage of 220 volts) to the unmanned vehicle100through the cable10. As an example, the power and voltage required for the load circuit110of the unmanned vehicle100are respectively 600 watts and a DC voltage of 24 volts. The adaptive power supply140may adjust/convert the AC voltage of 220 volts of the source power SP into a DC voltage of 24 volts to power the load circuit110. The length of the cable10may be determined based on design requirements. For example, the length of the cable10may be 100 meters, and assume that the resistance value of the parasitic resistance of 100 meters of the cable10is 15 ohms. Under the condition of not being powered by the battery150, the current of the AC power transmitted by the cable10is 600/220≈2.73 amps, resulting in a voltage drop of 15*(600/220)≈40 volts for the cable10. The wire loss of the cable10is [15*(600/220)]*(600/220)≈112 watts. In the present embodiment, the voltage of the source power SP is greater than the rated voltage of the load circuit110, and the adaptive power supply140steps down the voltage level of the source power SP to meet the rated voltage of the load circuit110. Therefore, the current value in the cable10may be lowered to effectively reduce the wire loss of the cable10.

The battery150is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140. That is, the adaptive power supply140and the battery150are connected in parallel to the input power terminal of the load circuit110. The battery150may be used as a buffered battery for the unmanned vehicle100. In some scenarios, based on the control of the power dispatch controller130, the battery150and the adaptive power supply140may optionally power the load circuit110together. When the power supply of the adaptive power supply140is abnormal, the battery150may provide power to the unmanned vehicle100to perform emergency processing (such as emergency landing, emergency stop, sending a distress signal, etc.)

The sensing circuit120is coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140to sense the output of the adaptive power supply140. In some embodiments, the sensing circuit120is coupled to the battery150to sense the output of the battery150. Based on design requirements, in some embodiments, the sensing circuit120is coupled to the input power terminal of the load circuit110to sense the input power of the load circuit110. For example (but not limited to), the sensing circuit120includes a sensor120a, a sensor120b, and a sensor120c. The sensor120ais coupled to the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140to sense the output of the adaptive power supply140. The sensor120bis coupled to the battery150to sense the output of the battery150. The sensor120cis coupled to the input power terminal of the load circuit110to sense the input of the load circuit110. Based on design requirements, the sensor120amay include a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and/or other electrical sensors. The sensor120amay sense an output voltage, an output current, a current direction, and/or other electrical characteristics of the adaptive power supply140, and then provide a sensing result to the power dispatch controller130. The sensor120bmay be analogized with reference to the description of the sensor120a, and therefore is not repeated. The sensor120cmay include a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and/or other electrical sensors. The sensor120cmay sense an input voltage, an input current, a current direction, and/or other electrical characteristics of the load circuit110, and then provide a sensing result to the power dispatch controller130.

FIG. 2is a flowchart of an operation method of an adaptive power supply system shown according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The input terminal of the adaptive power supply140receives the source power SP (step S210), and the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140powers the load circuit110of the unmanned vehicle100(step S220). Based on design requirements, in step S230, the sensing circuit120may sense the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140, and/or the sensing circuit120may sense the output of the battery150disposed in the unmanned vehicle100. In another embodiment, the sensing circuit120may sense the output of the adaptive power supply140, the output of the battery150, and/or the input power of the load circuit110, depending on design requirements. For example, in some embodiments, the sensing circuit120may sense the output power (e.g., voltage, current, and/or other electrical characteristics) of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140in step S230, but does not sense the output of the battery150and the input power of the load circuit110, to obtain the sensing result. In some other embodiments, the sensing circuit120may sense the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140and the output of the battery150in step S230, but does not sense the input power of the load circuit110, to obtain the sensing result. In still some other embodiments, the sensing circuit120may sense the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140, the output of the battery150, and the input power of the load circuit110in step S230to obtain the sensing result.

The power dispatch controller130is coupled to the sensing circuit120to receive the sensing result of the sensing circuit120. The power dispatch controller130is also coupled to the adaptive power supply140. The sensing circuit120may provide a protection mechanism for overall power control. The power dispatch controller130may learn, through the sensing circuit120, the voltage value, current value, current direction, and/or other electrical information of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140and/or the voltage value, current value, current direction, and/or other electrical information of the battery150. Based on the sensing result of the sensing circuit120, the power dispatch controller130may control the output of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140(step S240).

By adjusting the output of the adaptive power supply140, the power dispatch controller130may determine whether the adaptive power supply140powers the load circuit110, the battery150powers the load circuit110, or the battery150and the adaptive power supply140power the load circuit110together (step S250). For example, the output voltage of the battery150is changed as the battery150is charged and discharged. When the battery150is discharged (e.g., to power the load circuit110), the output voltage of the battery150is reduced, and therefore the power dispatch controller130may increase the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140. When the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140is higher than the output voltage of the battery150, the adaptive power supply140may power the load circuit110while charging the battery150. The power dispatch controller130may monitor the voltage value, current value, and/or current direction of the adaptive power supply140, the battery150, and/or the load circuit110to dynamically adjust the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140such that the battery150may be charged or discharged.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of an operation method of an adaptive power supply system shown according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Step S210to step S250shown inFIG. 3are as described inFIG. 2and are therefore not repeated. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, step S250includes step S251, step S252, step S253, and step S254. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 3. In the present embodiment, the sensing circuit120senses the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140and the output voltage of the battery150. Depending on the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140and the output voltage of the battery150, the power dispatch controller130may determine whether one of the adaptive power supply140and the battery150powers the load circuit110, or the battery150and the adaptive power supply140power the load circuit110together.

For example, the power dispatch controller130may increase the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140such that the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140is greater than the output voltage of the battery150(step S251is “greater than the output voltage of the battery”). Thus, the adaptive power supply140may power the load circuit110and simultaneously charge the battery150(step S252). For example, when the power dispatch controller130learns that the output voltage of the battery150is too low (e.g., the output voltage of the battery150is below a certain threshold voltage), the power dispatch controller130may increase the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140. When the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140is greater than the output voltage of the battery150, the adaptive power supply140may power the load circuit110and charge the battery150.

As another example, the power dispatch controller130may adjust the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140such that the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140is equal to the output voltage of the battery150(step S251is “equal to the output voltage of the battery”). Therefore, the adaptive power supply140and the battery150may power the load circuit110together (step S253). When the power dispatch controller130learns that the load circuit110requires a large current (for example, through the sensing circuit120or the control system, software, or other circuits of the unmanned vehicle100) and the power dispatch controller130is not ready to supply the large current immediately (or insufficient to supply the large current), the battery150may supply current to the load circuit110instantly (without switching) to meet the large current demand of the load circuit110. That is, when the load circuit110requires a large current, the adaptive power supply140and the battery150may power the load circuit110together instantly (without switching). After the current demand of the load circuit110is reduced, the power dispatch controller130may increase the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140to charge the battery150.

More specifically, the power dispatch controller130may reduce the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140such that the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140is lower than the output voltage of the battery150(step S251is “less than the output voltage of the battery”). Therefore, the battery150may power the load circuit110(step S254).

The implementation of step S250is not limited toFIG. 3. For example, in some other embodiments, the sensing circuit120may sense the output current of the output terminal of the adaptive power supply140and the output current of the battery150. The power dispatch controller130may control/determine the output voltage of the adaptive power supply140based on the direction of the output current of the adaptive power supply140and the direction of the output current of the battery150. In addition, the sensing circuit120may sense the input current of the input power of the load circuit110. When the required input current of the load circuit110is greater than the rated values of the output current of the adaptive power supply140and the output current of the battery150(i.e., the adaptive power supply140and the battery150may not supply sufficient current to the load circuit110), the power dispatch controller130may notify the power supply device20such that the power supply device20may provide a higher source power SP to the adaptive power supply140through the cable10. The adaptive power supply140may output a greater current and power the load circuit110with the battery150together.

Based on design requirements, the adaptive power supply system shown inFIG. 1may further include a tension control winch device. The tension control winch device retracts and releases the cable10and automatically control/adjust the tension of the cable10. By adjusting the tension of the cable10, the winding (knotting) of the cable10may be effectively avoided or reduced.

For example,FIG. 4is a circuit block diagram of a tension control winch device400shown according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The tension control winch device400shown inFIG. 4is applicable to the unmanned vehicle100. The tension control winch device400powers the unmanned vehicle100through the cable10. The tension control winch device400includes a winch controller410and a winch module420. The winch module420retracts and releases the cable10, wherein the first end of the cable10is coupled to the unmanned vehicle100, and the second end of the cable10is coupled to the power supply device20. The power supply device20provides the source power SP to the unmanned vehicle100through the cable10. The winch controller410is coupled to the winch module420. The winch controller410correspondingly controls cable mode or speed of the winch module420for the cable10according to the tension of the cable10between the unmanned vehicle100and the winch module420to automatically adjust the tension of the cable10.

FIG. 5is a flowchart of an operation method of a tension control winch device shown according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer toFIG. 4andFIG. 5. In step S510, the cable10is retracted and released by the winch module420. According to the tension of the cable10between the unmanned vehicle100and the winch module420, in step S520, the winch controller410correspondingly controls the cable mode or the speed of the winch module420for the cable10to automatically adjust the tension of the cable10.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the winch module420may include a motor421and a winch422. The motor421may drive the winch422to rotate, such that the cable10may be wound on the winch422. Based on design requirements, the motor421may be any type of motor, such as a DC motor, a stepper motor, or other types of motor. The winch controller410may learn the load condition of the motor421and infer the tension of the cable10according to the load condition. Based on design requirements, the winch controller410may pre-define the tension upper limit and/or the tension lower limit. The winch controller410may control the cable mode or the speed of the motor421for the cable10based on the tension and the tension upper limit (and/or the tension lower limit) of the cable10.

For example, when the tension of the cable10is greater than the tension upper limit, the winch controller410may control the motor421and the winch422to enter a release mode to reduce the tension of the cable10. When the tension of the cable10is less than the tension lower limit, the winch controller410may control the motor421and the winch422to enter a retract mode to increase the tension of the cable10. When the tension of the cable10is between the tension upper limit and the tension lower limit, the winch controller410may control the motor421to enter a stop mode to stop the rotation of the winch422. The tension upper limit and the tension lower limit may be determined based on design requirements.

As another example, when the tension of the cable10is greater than the tension upper limit, the winch controller410may control the rotational speed of the motor421such that the speed of the winch422is negative (i.e., release) to reduce the tension of the cable10. When the tension of the cable10is less than the tension lower limit, the winch controller410may control the rotational speed of the motor421such that the speed of the winch422is positive (i.e., retraction) in order to increase the tension of the cable10. When the tension of the cable10is between the tension upper limit and the tension lower limit, the winch controller410may control the rotational speed of the motor421such that the speed of the winch422is zero (i.e., cable is stopped).

FIG. 6is a circuit block diagram of a tension control winch device600shown according to another embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 6is a side view of the tension control winch device600. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6, the tension control winch device600shown inFIG. 6includes a winch controller610, a winch module620, a wire-trimming mechanism630, a wheel640, and a tension sensor650. The tension control winch device600, the winch controller610, and the winch module620shown inFIG. 6may be analogized with reference to the descriptions of the tension control winch device400, the winch controller410, and the winch module420shown inFIG. 4, and therefore are not repeated. It should be noted that one or more of the wire-trimming mechanism630, the wheel640, and the tension sensor650may be omitted in other embodiments based on design requirements.

FIG. 7is a flowchart of an operation method of a tension control winch device shown according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer toFIG. 4,FIG. 5, andFIG. 6. The tension sensor650is coupled to the winch controller610. The tension sensor650senses the tension of the cable10between the unmanned vehicle100and the winch module620and generates a tension value associated with the tension to the winch controller610. In step S710, the winch controller610may preset the tension upper limit and/or the tension lower limit.

Step S720and step S730shown inFIG. 7are as described in step S510and step S520shown inFIG. 5. Based on the control of the winch controller610, the winch module620retracts and releases the cable10(step S720). Based on the tension value provided by the tension sensor650and the tension upper limit (and/or the tension lower limit) set in step S710, the winch controller610controls cable mode or speed of the winch module620for the cable10(step S730).

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, step S730includes step S731, step S732, step S733, step S734, and step S735. In step S731, the tension sensor650may sense the tension of the cable10between the unmanned vehicle100and the winch module620and generates a tension value associated with the tension to the winch controller610. In step S732to step S735, the winch controller610controls the cable mode or the speed of the winch module620for the cable10based on the tension value and the tension upper limit (and/or the tension lower limit). The tension upper limit and the tension lower limit may be determined based on design requirements.

When the tension of the cable10is greater than the tension upper limit (step S732is “greater than the tension upper limit”), the winch controller610may control the winch module620to enter release mode (step S733) to reduce the tension of the cable10. In another embodiment, the winch controller610may control the speed of the winch module620(rotational speed of the winch422) in step S733such that the retracting speed of the winch422is negative (i.e., release), so as to reduce the tension of the cable10.

When the tension of the cable10is between the tension upper limit and the tension lower limit (step S732is “between the tension upper limit and the tension lower limit”), the winch controller610may control the winch module620to enter stop mode (step S734) to stop the rotation of the winch422. In another embodiment, the winch controller610may control the speed of the winch module620(rotational speed of the winch422) in step S734such that the retracting speed of the winch422is zero (i.e., cable is stopped).

When the tension of the cable10is less than the tension lower limit (step S732is “less than the tension lower limit”), the winch controller610may control the winch module620to enter retract mode (step S735) to increase the tension of the cable10. In another embodiment, the winch controller610may control the speed of the winch module620(rotational speed of the winch422) in step S735such that the retracting speed of the winch422is positive (i.e., retraction) so as to increase the tension of the cable10.

In some embodiments, the operation method further includes: dynamically adjusting the retracting position of the cable10in the winch422by the wire-trimming mechanism630during the retraction of the cable10by the winch module620according to the number of revolutions of the winch422of the winch module620.

FIG. 8is a top view of the winch422and the wire-trimming mechanism630ofFIG. 6shown according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The wire-trimming mechanism630may drive the cable10to move (for example, moving along the direction of the arrow shown inFIG. 8). During the retraction of the cable10by the winch422of the winch module620, the wire-trimming mechanism630may dynamically adjust the retracting position of the cable10in the winch422according to the number of revolutions of the winch422. As such, the cable10may be evenly dispersed on the winch422.

Based on the above, a tension control winch device is applicable to an unmanned vehicle, and the tension control winch device includes a winch module and a winch controller. The winch module retracts and releases a cable, wherein a first end of the cable is coupled to the unmanned vehicle, a second end of the cable is coupled to a power supply device, and the power supply device provides source power to the unmanned vehicle through the cable. The winch controller is coupled to the winch module, wherein the winch controller correspondingly controls cable mode or speed of the winch module for the cable according to a tension of the cable between the unmanned vehicle and the winch module to automatically adjust the tension of the cable.

In some embodiments, the tension control winch device further includes a tension sensor. The tension sensor is coupled to the winch controller to sense the tension of the cable between the unmanned vehicle and the winch module and generate a tension value associated with the tension to the winch controller.

In some embodiments, the winch controller controls cable mode or speed of the winch module to the cable according to the tension value and according to a tension upper limit or a tension lower limit.

In some embodiments, the tension control winch device further includes a wire-trimming mechanism. A wire-trimming mechanism dynamically adjusts a retracting position of the cable in the winch according to a number of revolutions of a winch of the winch module during the retraction of the cable by the winch module.

Based on the above, the operation method of the tension control winch device is applicable to an unmanned vehicle. The operation method includes: retracting and releasing a cable by a winch module, wherein the first end of the cable is coupled to the unmanned vehicle, the second end of the cable is coupled to the power supply device, and the power supply device provides source power to the unmanned vehicle through the cable; and correspondingly controlling, by the winch controller, the cable mode or the speed of the winch module for the cable according to the tension of the cable between the unmanned vehicle and the winch module to automatically adjust the tension of the cable.

In some embodiments, the operation method further includes: sensing, by the tension sensor, the tension of the cable between the unmanned vehicle and the winch module; and generating, by the tension sensor, a tension value associated with the tension to the winch controller.

In some embodiments, the step of correspondingly controlling the cable mode or the speed of the winch module for the cable includes: controlling, by the winch controller, the cable mode or the speed of the winch module to the cable according to the tension value and according to the tension upper limit or the tension lower limit.

In some embodiments, the operation method further includes: dynamically adjusting the retracting position of the cable in the winch by the wire-trimming mechanism during the retraction of the cable by the winch module according to the number of revolutions of the winch of the winch module.

According to different design requirements, the blocks of the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented in the form of hardware, firmware, software (i.e., program), or a combination of a plurality of the three.

In hardware form, the blocks of the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented in a logic circuit on an integrated circuit. The related functions of the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented as hardware using a hardware description language such as Verilog HDL or VHDL or other suitable programming languages. For example, the related functions of the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented in one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or various logic blocks, modules, and circuits in other processing units.

In software form and/or firmware form, the related functions of the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented as programming codes. For example, the power dispatch controller130and/or the winch controller610may be implemented using a general programming language (such as C, C++, or a combination language) or other suitable programming languages. The programming codes may be recorded/stored in a recording medium, and the recording medium includes, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a storage device, and/or a random-access memory (RAM). A computer, a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, a microcontroller, or a microprocessor may read and execute the programming codes from the recording medium to achieve a related function. For the recording medium, a “non-transitory computer-readable medium” may be used. For example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, etc. may be used. Moreover, the program may also be provided to the computer (or CPU) through any transmission medium (communication network or broadcast wave, etc.) The communication network is, for example, the internet, wired communication, wireless communication, or other communication media.

Based on the above, the adaptive power supply and battery described in the embodiments of the disclosure are disposed in an unmanned vehicle. The adaptive power supply may adjust/convert the voltage of the source power into a voltage level that matches the rated voltage of the load circuit of the unmanned vehicle. Therefore, the current value in the cable may be reduced as much as possible to effectively reduce the wire loss of the cable. Furthermore, when the load circuit requires a large current instantaneously, the adaptive power supply and the battery may power the load circuit together instantly (without switching).