The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for generating energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus may include a first roller comprising a curved roller surface configured to be positioned in substantial physical contact with a first wheel of the vehicle. The first roller may be configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the first wheel. The apparatus may further include a first shaft rotatably couplable to the first roller such that rotation of the first roller causes the first shaft to rotate. The apparatus may further include a first generator operably coupled to the first shaft. The generator may be configured to generate an electrical output based on the rotation of the first shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or to a motor of the vehicle that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy to rotate one or more wheels of the vehicle.

The technology relates to managing nighttime power for solar-powered vehicles. A system may include a sunrise estimator for estimating a time until a next sunrise, a battery state estimator for estimating a battery state, a critical battery estimator for determining a battery threshold, below which subsystems may be powered off, and an alert monitor to determine, and communicate to the solar-powered vehicle, a charge threshold and a restart charge threshold. A method may include operating a vehicle in an operational power mode, estimating a time until a next sunrise, estimating a battery state, determining a preservation battery threshold based on the estimated time until the next sunrise and the estimated battery state, determining a minimum charge threshold based on the preservation battery threshold, monitoring a battery charge level of the vehicle throughout the night, and if the battery charge level drops below the minimum charge threshold, implementing a preservation power mode.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

An autonomous body of water navigation system and method uses the current of the body of water. The body of water navigation method may be asymmetric since cargo may be transported along with the current of the body of water and the navigation system can be easily transported back up the body of water.

A solar energy utilization apparatus for installation on a road includes a mounting frame and solar cells. The mounting frame includes a top support and two lateral mounting legs connected to both sides of the top support, the top support is configured to face the road, and the lateral mounting legs respectively are installed on both sides of the road. The solar cells are arranged on the top support, each of the solar cells has a light receiving surface that is tilted downward, toward a same side of the road at a substantially same angle thereby facing an orientation where sunlight intensity is greater. The invention does not occupy farmland and other green vegetation areas. More importantly, such a configuration can provide a huge installation site for solar energy utilization apparatus, which meets the rapid development of the solar energy industry in the future.

A vehicle battery charging system includes a main battery, an auxiliary battery, an integrated converter that includes a high voltage charging device that supplies power to the main battery and a low voltage charging device that supplies power to the auxiliary battery, a solar cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy, a solar cell converter that converts an output of the solar cell into a voltage corresponding to a voltage of the auxiliary battery and outputs the converted voltage to the auxiliary battery, and a switching device that switches between the integrated converter and external power and the integrated converter and the solar cell, wherein the switching device connects the integrated converter and the solar cell in a solar cell only charging mode in which the auxiliary battery is charged by the solar cell.

An aircraft with the capability of taxiing with main engines off uses the energy stored in a mechanical flywheel to power a propulsor(s) providing taxiing thrust. The flywheel can store energy generated by the propulsor operating as a wind turbine and/or by a power turbine in fluid coupling with the exhaust of a gas turbine engine and/or an expansion turbine operating with bleed and/or APU air.

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

A power conversion apparatus connected to three or more voltage units, includes three or more power conversion circuits connected to respective units of the three or more voltage units; and a multiport transformer connected to the three or more power conversion circuits at mutually different ports, in which at least one voltage unit of the three or more voltage units is an electrical load.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.