A method for regulating the speed of a propulsion device of an aircraft including: the propulsion device and a gearbox MGB; the heat engine and at least one electric motor, mounted in parallel on the MGB, the heat engine having a fuel circuit; main and backup regulation systems, and a regulation system, each capable of regulating the speed of the heat engine or the electric motor, respectively; a control system of the aircraft, capable of sending a speed or power setpoint to each of the regulation of the heat engine and the electric motor. The method includes: sending a speed setpoint N.sub.M2ref to the regulation system of the electric motor, the regulation system sending a power command P.sub.M2*, to obtain an instantaneous power P.sub.M2m; simultaneously, sending a speed or power command to the backup regulation system of the heat engine, the backup regulation system sending a selected fuel flow command QCarbAux* to the fuel circuit of the heat engine.

A method for regulating the speed of a propulsion device of an aircraft including: the propulsion device and a gearbox MGB; the heat engine and at least one electric motor, mounted in parallel on the MGB, the heat engine having a fuel circuit; main and backup regulation systems, and a regulation system, each capable of regulating the speed of the heat engine or the electric motor, respectively; a control system of the aircraft, capable of sending a speed or power setpoint to each of the regulation of the heat engine and the electric motor. The method includes: sending a speed setpoint N.sub.M2ref to the regulation system of the electric motor, the regulation system sending a power command P.sub.M2*, to obtain an instantaneous power P.sub.M2m; simultaneously, sending a speed or power command to the backup regulation system of the heat engine, the backup regulation system sending a selected fuel flow command QCarbAux* to the fuel circuit of the heat engine.

An aircraft may have a fuselage, a left wing extending from the fuselage, a right wing extending from the fuselage, a tail section extending from a rear portion of the fuselage, and a first engine and a second engine operably connected by a common driveshaft, wherein the first and second engines are configured for freewheeling such that if one of the first and second engines loses power the other of the first and second engines continues to power the aircraft.

A method of and system for damping vibrations in a hybrid-electric propulsion system configured to drive a propulsor is provided. The hybrid-electric propulsion system includes a thermal engine, an electric motor, and an inverter. The method includes: a) controlling the thermal engine and the electric motor to operate at a target propulsion parameter, wherein the inverter is used in the controlling of the electric motor; b) determining a presence of a vibrational response within the hybrid-electric propulsion system; c) producing a vibration compensation signal configured to damp the vibrational response within the hybrid-electric propulsion system; and d) controlling the electric motor to damp the vibrational response using the vibrational compensation signal.

An aircraft includes a closed wing, a fuselage at least partially disposed within a perimeter of the closed wing, and one or more spokes coupling the closed wing to the fuselage. A source of electric power is disposed within or attached to the closed wing, fuselage or one or more spokes. A plurality of electric motors are disposed within or attached to the one or more spokes in a distributed configuration. Each electric motor is connected to the source of electric power. A propeller is operably connected to each of the electric motors and proximate to a leading edge of the one or more spokes. One or more processors are communicably coupled to the plurality of electric motors. A longitudinal axis of the fuselage is substantially vertical in vertical takeoff and landing and stationary flight, and substantially in a direction of a forward flight in a forward flight mode.

An example method of managing power in a hybrid propulsion system includes receiving, by one or more processors, a power demand that specifies an amount of power to be used to propel a vehicle that includes an electrical energy storage system (ESS) and one or more electrical generators, wherein the one or more electrical generators are configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; determining, based on the power demand and a predetermined ESS output limit, a first amount of power to be sourced from the ESS and a second amount of power to be sourced from the one or more generators; and causing, by the one or more processors, the ESS to output the first amount of power onto a direct current (DC) electrical distribution bus and the one or more generators to output the second amount of power onto the DC electrical distribution bus.

Disclosed is a method for displaying actionable information on an electronic vehicle display panel which includes: receiving data from a plurality of sensors. The data received from each of the plurality of sensors is analyzed to determine a data category for the data from each sensor, wherein each data category corresponds to an information priority level. The data from each of the plurality of sensors is displayed according to the determined data category, wherein data within a data category corresponding to a high information priority level is displayed more prominently relative to other data, and wherein data within a data category corresponding to a low information priority level is displayed less prominently relative to other data; and displaying at least a portion of the data as at least one from the set of: a fuel cell voltage difference, a hydrogen flow rate, a temperature discrepancy, and a rate of temperature change.

A method of operation is provided during which rotation of a propulsor rotor of an aircraft is driven using mechanical power output from a powerplant. The powerplant includes a heat engine and an electric machine. The heat engine provides a first portion of the mechanical power. The electric machine provides a second portion of the mechanical power. An operational temperature of the heat engine is regulated by controlling the first portion of the mechanical power generated by the heat engine and the second portion of the mechanical power generated by the electric machine.

A method of operating a hybrid engine for an aircraft, the hybrid engine having a thermal engine and an electric motor. The method includes verifying, using an engine control unit of the hybrid engine, that a selected power level is under a predetermined threshold for operation of the hybrid engine in a sub-idle hybrid mode. The method further includes operating the hybrid engine in the sub-idle hybrid mode, using the engine control unit, by controlling the thermal engine to operate in a standby mode, and by controlling the electric motor to operate in an active mode wherein the electric motor provides a majority of a propulsive power to the aircraft, wherein in the standby mode the thermal engine operates in a sub-idle condition to provide at most minimal propulsive power to the aircraft.

A method of operating a hybrid engine for an aircraft, the hybrid engine having a thermal engine and an electric motor. The method includes verifying, using an engine control unit of the hybrid engine, that a selected power level is under a predetermined threshold for operation of the hybrid engine in a sub-idle hybrid mode. The method further includes operating the hybrid engine in the sub-idle hybrid mode, using the engine control unit, by controlling the thermal engine to operate in a standby mode, and by controlling the electric motor to operate in an active mode wherein the electric motor provides a majority of a propulsive power to the aircraft, wherein in the standby mode the thermal engine operates in a sub-idle condition to provide at most minimal propulsive power to the aircraft.