A hydraulic propulsion system is disclosed which includes an input interface configured to receive mechanical power from a power source, a pressure source comprising one or more fixed or variable displacement pumps coupled to the input interface and adaptable to convert mechanical power to hydraulic power and controlling outlet pressure of the pressure source (system pressure), one or more variable displacement motors coupled to the pressure source via a corresponding high-pressure line configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more aerodynamic rotors of an aircraft and comprising a closed loop speed control arrangement in response to a commanded rotor speed, and a controller configured to control the speed of one or more variable displacement motors by providing a control signal for controlling the system pressure.

A hydraulic propulsion system is disclosed which includes an input interface configured to receive mechanical power from a power source, a pressure source comprising one or more fixed or variable displacement pumps coupled to the input interface and adaptable to convert mechanical power to hydraulic power and controlling outlet pressure of the pressure source (system pressure), one or more variable displacement motors coupled to the pressure source via a corresponding high-pressure line configured to be mechanically coupled to one or more aerodynamic rotors of an aircraft and comprising a closed loop speed control arrangement in response to a commanded rotor speed, and a controller configured to control the speed of one or more variable displacement motors by providing a control signal for controlling the system pressure.

An aircraft having a frame assembly that supports a compressor having an outer shell that defines front and rear nozzle ports with rotatable nozzles for selectable vertical or horizontal thrust. The inner shell and the outer shell define an intake gap therebetween such as an annulus. A first fan unit within the inner shell and is configured to exhaust air through the front nozzle ports. A second fan unit within the outer shell intakes air through the intake gap and exhausts air through the rear nozzle ports. The fan units are preferably connected to one another via a drive shaft that is surrounded by a streamlining tube. The fan units each include a plurality of fans having stators therebetween. The stators have a plurality of stator arms with a wing structure pivotally attached to the trailing edge for angling air flow from a front to a rear fan.

An electric power supply system for an aircraft includes: a first electric source and a second electric source coupled together to supply electric power to a set of electrical loads, and a controller configured to acquire a piece of information on the current electric consumption consumed by the set of electrical loads; acquire a piece of information corresponding to a target ratio of the distribution, between the first and second electric sources, of the current electric consumption consumed by the set of electrical loads; perform frequency filtering of the current electric consumption to determine a transient consumption portion of the current electric consumption; determine control setpoints for the first electric source and for the second electric source in accordance with the target distribution ratio and with the transient consumption portion; and apply the control setpoints to the first and second electric sources.

An electric power supply system for an aircraft includes: a first electric source and a second electric source coupled together to supply electric power to a set of electrical loads, and a controller configured to acquire a piece of information on the current electric consumption consumed by the set of electrical loads; acquire a piece of information corresponding to a target ratio of the distribution, between the first and second electric sources, of the current electric consumption consumed by the set of electrical loads; perform frequency filtering of the current electric consumption to determine a transient consumption portion of the current electric consumption; determine control setpoints for the first electric source and for the second electric source in accordance with the target distribution ratio and with the transient consumption portion; and apply the control setpoints to the first and second electric sources.

For aircraft taxiing, an aircraft is equipped with an electric machine installed in a propulsor gearbox (PGB), in parallel to the gas turbine, working in motor mode during taxi, and in generator mode during flight phases (such as take-off, climb, cruise, descent, approach and landing). Typical current systems which use an electric machine in the PGB do not use the electric machine in motor mode for taxi operations (i.e., it is only an additional generator). An optimized power supply providing a combination of a thermal engine such as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and an electric energy storage system such as a battery provides power to the PGB electric machine even when the gas turbine is off.

For aircraft taxiing, an aircraft is equipped with an electric machine installed in a propulsor gearbox (PGB), in parallel to the gas turbine, working in motor mode during taxi, and in generator mode during flight phases (such as take-off, climb, cruise, descent, approach and landing). Typical current systems which use an electric machine in the PGB do not use the electric machine in motor mode for taxi operations (i.e., it is only an additional generator). An optimized power supply providing a combination of a thermal engine such as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and an electric energy storage system such as a battery provides power to the PGB electric machine even when the gas turbine is off.

An engine system for an aircraft comprising a propulsor configured to drive the aircraft, a thermal combustion engine configured to drive the propulsor, an electric motor connected to the thermal combustion engine and configured to drive the propulsor, a power converter configured to apply a torque to the electric motor and generate electric energy from the torque applied to the electric motor, and an engine controller, the engine controller being configured to determine a current power output of the thermal combustion engine, determine an optimum power output of the thermal combustion engine based on current operating conditions, and vary the torque applied to the electric motor so as to vary a load on the thermal combustion engine, wherein the torque may be varied by an amount required to vary the power output of the thermal combustion engine to the determined optimum power output.

An engine system for an aircraft comprising a propulsor configured to drive the aircraft, a thermal combustion engine configured to drive the propulsor, an electric motor connected to the thermal combustion engine and configured to drive the propulsor, a power converter configured to apply a torque to the electric motor and generate electric energy from the torque applied to the electric motor, and an engine controller, the engine controller being configured to determine a current power output of the thermal combustion engine, determine an optimum power output of the thermal combustion engine based on current operating conditions, and vary the torque applied to the electric motor so as to vary a load on the thermal combustion engine, wherein the torque may be varied by an amount required to vary the power output of the thermal combustion engine to the determined optimum power output.

A power supply system includes a rotor for generating at least one of lift or thrust of an aircraft, a component group formed of a plurality of electrical components for rotating the rotor, and a battery for supplying power to the component group. The rotor includes a VTOL rotor and a cruise rotor, and the component group includes a VTOL component group and a cruise component group. The VTOL component group and the cruise component group are supplied with power from the same battery.