Patent ID: 8648490

Claim:
A system configured to manage power within an unmanned underwater vessel, the system comprising: a power bus through which power is distributed to a plurality of system loads, the system loads comprising one or more of a sensor for detecting an environment parameter, a communications device, or a propulsion mechanism; a plurality of load management modules configured to control the system loads, the plurality of load management modules comprising a first load management module coupled to a first system load and a second load management module coupled to a second system load, wherein each of the first load management module and the second load management module is separately coupled to the power bus, and wherein each of the first load management module and the second load management module comprises: a power stage configured to condition the power received by the load management module from the power bus so that the received power can be used to power the corresponding system load; a power controller configured to control the power stage as power received by the power stage is conditioned for use by the corresponding system load, wherein the control of the power stage by the power controller includes feedback control based on operating parameters of the power stage; and a load controller configured to control the corresponding system load; a system management processor in operative communication with the load management modules, the system management processor being configured to generate commands to the load controllers of the load management modules for controlling the system loads, the commands being determined based at least in part on mission parameters and one or more parameters of one or more energy supplies providing power to the system loads via the power bus.