Patent ID: 8548713

Claim:
A method of managing the power demanded from one or more power sources forming part of a powered machine, the method comprising: i) setting time-varying power demand constraints for each of the one or more power sources, wherein the time-varying power demand constraints are set as a function of time and vary with time and are based on an operational objective of the machine; ii) setting a desired operating characteristic representing at least one of a) a mode in which it is desired to operate the machine and b) a mode in which it is desired to operate each of the one or more power sources of the machine; iii) inputting the time-varying power demand constraints and the operating characteristic to a power control processor arranged for autonomously regulating the power demanded from each of the one or more power sources within the inputted power demand constraints which represent a remit of delegated autonomy for the power control processor; iv) for each of the one or more power sources, determining one or more power source operating parameters and/or one or more fault conditions associated with each of the one or more power sources; and v) using the power control processor to autonomously control the power demanded from each of the one or more power sources by: generating a power demand control signal for each of the one or more power sources, based on the power demand constraints, the operating characteristic and power source operating parameters and/or one or more fault conditions with data pre-stored in a storage device; such that the power demanded from each of the one or more power sources is within the delegated remit of autonomy and the operation of the machine and/or operation of each of the one or more power sources is optimised for the input operating characteristic.