Electrical power systems and methods of controlling electrical power systems are described. One such electrical power system comprises: a first ac bus and a first generator set configured to supply the first ac bus with ac electrical power; a second ac bus and a second generator set, configured to supply the second ac bus with ac electrical power; an interconnecting transformer connected between the first and second ac busses; a primary electrical load connected to both the first and second ac busses via a converter arrangement; an auxiliary load connected to the first ac bus; and a controller configured to control the first generator set according to a first droop control profile and to control the second generator set according to a second droop control profile, the first and second droop control profiles relating respective generator operating frequencies of the first and second generator sets to respective output powers of the first and second generator sets.

A voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system includes an electric propulsion system. The voltage controlled aircraft electric propulsion system may include electric propulsors providing thrust for the aircraft. In hybrid systems, a gas turbine engine may also be included. The electric propulsion system may include at least one electric generator power source, at least one propulsor motor load, and at least one stored energy power source, such as a battery. The propulsor motor load may be supplied power from a power supply bus. The voltage of the power supply bus may be adjusted according to an altitude of the aircraft while maintaining a substantially constant current flow to the propulsor motor load. Due to the adjustment to lower voltages at increased altitude, insulations levels may be lower.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) a fixed frame and a rotating arm pivotably coupled to the fixed frame at a central axis. The fixed frame includes peripheral propellers and corresponding motors for flying the UAV, and a central electronics enclosure for housing electronics used to control the UAV. The rotating arm is between the propellers and configured to rotate with respect to the fixed frame about the central axis. The rotating arm includes magnetic feet at a first end of the rotating arm and configured to perch and magnetically attach the UAV to a ferromagnetic surface, a docking station at the first end and configured to release and dock a releasable crawler, and a battery at a second end of the rotating arm opposite the first end and configured to supply power to the motors and the housed electronics, and to counterbalance the first end about the central axis.

Systems and methods are described for securely monitoring a shipping container for an environmental anomaly using elements of a wireless node network of sensor-based ID nodes disposed within the container and a command node associated with the container. The method has the command node identifying which of the ID nodes are confirmed as trusted sensors based upon a security credential specific to each of the ID nodes; monitoring only the confirmed ID nodes for sensor data broadcast those ID nodes; detecting the anomaly based upon the sensor data from at least one of the confirmed ID nodes; automatically generating an alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container; and transmitting the alert notification to the external transceiver to initiate a mediation response related to the detected environmental anomaly.

An aircraft wheel includes a rim that is secured to a central hub defining an axis of rotation of the wheel. The wheel includes one or more driving pins that extend from the hub, projecting in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel so as to cooperate with a driving member for driving the wheel in rotation. The driving pin is distinct from bolts assembling together parts of the wheel.

A composite PDU tire in an aircraft cargo handling system may comprise a plurality of bonded regions configured to propel cargo within an aircraft cargo bay. The composite tire may include edge regions that are stiffer than a cylindrical region. The edge regions may be configured to have a greater wear resistance and abrasion resistance relative to the cylindrical region. The cylindrical region may be configured to have greater traction relative to the edge regions. The edge regions may include a fillet profile and may be configured to reduce chipping as cargo climbs across the tire.

A hybrid propulsion system includes a heat engine configured to drive a heat engine shaft. An electric motor is configured to drive an electric motor shaft. A transmission system includes at least one gearbox. The transmission system is configured to receive rotational input power from each of the heat engine shaft and the electric motor shaft and to convert the rotation input power to output power.

A posture estimation method includes calculating a posture change amount of an object based on an output of an angular velocity sensor, predicting posture information of the object by using the posture change amount, adjusting error information in a manner of determining whether or not the output of the angular velocity sensor is within an effective range and, when it is determined that the output of the angular velocity sensor is not within the effective range, increasing a posture error component in error information and reducing a correlation component between the posture error component and an error component other than the posture error component in the error information, and correcting the predicted posture information of the object based on the error information.

Systems and methods are described for securely monitoring a shipping container for an environmental anomaly using elements of a wireless node network of sensor-based ID nodes disposed within the container and a command node associated with the container. The method has the command node identifying which of the ID nodes are confirmed as trusted sensors based upon a security credential specific to each of the ID nodes; monitoring only the confirmed ID nodes for sensor data broadcast those ID nodes; detecting the anomaly based upon the sensor data from at least one of the confirmed ID nodes; automatically generating an alert notification related to the detected environmental anomaly for the shipping container; and transmitting the alert notification to the external transceiver to initiate a mediation response related to the detected environmental anomaly.

A method and apparatus for controlling an airflow. The method draws air through a group of inlets. The group of inlets is located in a group of locations on the vehicle such that the group of inlets actively controls the airflow relative to an aircraft when drawing the air. The method compresses the air drawn by the group of inlets in a group of air compressor units located in an aircraft structure to form pressurized air. Further, the method sends the pressurized air through a group of exit ports in the aircraft structure. The pressurized air flowing out of the group of exit ports actively controls the airflow for an aircraft, enabling an improved performance of the aircraft.