Powertrains and related methods for an aerial vehicle may include a torque control system associated with the powertrain and configured to receive torque signals indicative of engine torque supplied by a mechanical power source or generator torque generated by an electric power generation device resisting the engine torque. The torque control system may be configured to generate, based in part on torque signals, a torque control signal configured to change the engine torque or change the generator torque. When torque signals indicate a relative reduction in the engine torque supplied by the mechanical power source, torque control signals may be configured to cause a relative reduction in the generator torque resisting the engine torque. When torque signals indicate a relative increase in the engine torque supplied by the mechanical power source, torque control signals may be configured to cause a relative increase in the generator torque resisting the engine torque.

A vehicle includes a first rotor system having a rotor blade having an axis of rotation, a rotatable inboard drive component, and a rotatable outboard drive component. The first rotor system further includes a flexible closed loop component associated with each of the inboard drive component and the outboard drive component. Movement of the closed loop component can selectively cause at least one of rotation of the rotor blade about the axis of rotation and movement of the axis of rotation.

A vehicle includes a first rotor system having a rotor blade having an axis of rotation, a rotatable inboard drive component, and a rotatable outboard drive component. The first rotor system further includes a flexible closed loop component associated with each of the inboard drive component and the outboard drive component. Movement of the closed loop component can selectively cause at least one of rotation of the rotor blade about the axis of rotation and movement of the axis of rotation.

A method of reducing noise includes: driving a first propulsor using one or more of the first electrical motor and the first thermal engine, and driving a second propulsor of the second hybrid power plant using one or more of the second electrical motor and the second thermal engine; receiving a signal indicative of an initial combined noise signature; determining, from the signal, that an initial amplitude variation of a periodically fluctuating amplitude of the initial combined noise signature is greater than an amplitude variation threshold; modulating a thrust produced by the second hybrid power plant, by changing a power output of the second thermal engine or the second electrical motor, to produce a modulated combined noise signature having a modulated amplitude variation less than the initial amplitude variation; and compensating for a difference in thrusts generated by the first hybrid power plant and the second hybrid power plant.

A method of reducing noise includes: driving a first propulsor using one or more of the first electrical motor and the first thermal engine, and driving a second propulsor of the second hybrid power plant using one or more of the second electrical motor and the second thermal engine; receiving a signal indicative of an initial combined noise signature; determining, from the signal, that an initial amplitude variation of a periodically fluctuating amplitude of the initial combined noise signature is greater than an amplitude variation threshold; modulating a thrust produced by the second hybrid power plant, by changing a power output of the second thermal engine or the second electrical motor, to produce a modulated combined noise signature having a modulated amplitude variation less than the initial amplitude variation; and compensating for a difference in thrusts generated by the first hybrid power plant and the second hybrid power plant.

An electric machine may include a housing having a front end and a back end where the front end is the primary mechanical coupling end. The electric machine may include a stator and a rotor arranged within the housing and a shaft connected to the rotor. The shaft may extend out of the front end of the housing and the shaft may be configured to be rotationally driven by the rotor or to rotationally drive the rotor. The electric machine may also include an electronic controller configured to control operations of the rotor and stator and the electronic controller may be mounted on the front end of the housing.

An electric machine may include a housing having a front end and a back end where the front end is the primary mechanical coupling end. The electric machine may include a stator and a rotor arranged within the housing and a shaft connected to the rotor. The shaft may extend out of the front end of the housing and the shaft may be configured to be rotationally driven by the rotor or to rotationally drive the rotor. The electric machine may also include an electronic controller configured to control operations of the rotor and stator and the electronic controller may be mounted on the front end of the housing.

A method of controlling a hybrid-electric aircraft powerplant includes running a first control loop for command of a thermal engine based on error between total response commanded for a hybrid-electric powerplant and total response from the hybrid-electric powerplant. A second control loop runs in parallel with the first control loop for commanding the thermal engine based on error between maximum thermal engine output and total response commanded. A third control loop runs in parallel with the first and second control loops for commanding engine/propeller speed, wherein the third control loop outputs a speed control enable or disable status. A fourth control loop runs in parallel with the first, second, and third control loops for commanding the electric motor with non-zero demand when the second control loop is above control to add response from the electric motor to response from the thermal engine to achieve the response commanded.

An electric power generation controller for use in an aircraft to control an electric power generating apparatus including a manual transmission which changes speed of rotational power of an aircraft engine, transmits the rotational power to an electric power generator, and includes a plurality of gear stages. The electric power generation controller includes: a rotational frequency receiving section configured to receive an input rotational frequency or an output rotational frequency of the manual transmission as a monitoring rotational frequency; and a manual transmission control section configured to, when the monitoring rotational frequency exceeds a first threshold, output a shift-down signal to perform shift-down from an upper stage to a lower stage, and when the monitoring rotational frequency falls below a second threshold, output a shift-up signal to perform shift-up from the lower stage to the upper stage, the first threshold being set to a value larger than the second threshold.

A control assembly for an aircraft system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a multi-core processor that has a plurality of cores coupled to a communications module and to an arbitration module. The communications module is operable to communicate information between the plurality of cores and one or more aircraft modules. The plurality of cores include first and second cores operable to concurrently execute a first discrete set of software instructions to generate respective instances of an output. The arbitration module is operable to communicate each and every one of the respective instances to control the one or more aircraft modules. A method of operating an aircraft system is also disclosed.