Certain aspects relate to a battery pack for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Exemplary battery pack includes a first pouch cell, a second pouch cell, at least a sensor, where the at least a sensor is configured to sense battery pack data and transmit the battery pack data to a data storage system, and a vent configured to vent the ejecta from the first pouch cell. In some embodiments, battery pack may be configured to power at least a propulsor component.

A control method and system to control a pair of electric motors driving a vehicle. The steps provided for are: determining, in a control cycle N and by means of a first processing core, for a first electric motor, a first electric current target based on a first torque or speed target; determining, in the control cycle N and by means of a second processing core, for a second electric motor, a second electric current target based on a second torque or speed target; controlling, in the control cycle N and by means of the first processing core, a first electronic power converter connected to the first electric motor so as to pursue the first electric current target; and controlling, in the control cycle N and by means of the second processing core, a second electronic power converter connected to the second electric motor so as to pursue the second electric current target.

A power distribution system is provided that ensures that a car is able to operate safely in an autonomous mode. The system includes multiple power rails, including a pair of safety critical power rails. Associated with each safety critical power rail is a safety switch, vehicle sensors (e.g., vehicle location and obstacle sensors), vehicle actuators (e.g., braking and steering actuators) and an autonomous control unit. If a fault is detected during vehicle initialization or general operation, the safety switch which detected the fault opens and that particular power rail is decoupled from the general purpose power rail as well as the remaining safety critical power rail. The remaining safety critical power rail is then able to provide power to a sufficient number of sensors, actuators and controllers to allow the car to safely and autonomously complete an emergency stop on the side of the road.

The present disclosure relates to a converter system for transferring electric power, a vehicle comprising such a converter system and a method for transferring electric power. The converter system comprises a first DC/DC converter module, a second DC/DC converter module and a control unit. The first DC/DC converter module is connectable to a first high voltage system and at least to a first low voltage system. The second DC/DC converter module is connectable to a second high voltage system and at least to the first low voltage system. The first DC/DC converter module comprises at least a first main DC/DC converter unit and a first micro DC/DC converter unit. The second DC/DC converter module comprises at least a second micro DC/DC converter unit. The first micro DC/DC converter unit and the second micro DC/DC converter unit are connectable via a first bidirectional switch unit. The control unit is configured to transfer the electric power from the first high voltage system to the first low voltage system via the first micro DC/DC converter unit, if the first main DC/DC converter unit is deactivated. The control unit is further configured to open the first bidirectional switch unit to transfer the electric power from the second high voltage system to the first low voltage system via the second micro DC/DC converter unit, if the first main DC/DC converter unit is deactivated and the first micro DC/DC converter unit has a failure.

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controllers, dual power inverter modules, and electric vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller includes one or more processors associated with a first and second power inverter for the drive unit. Computer-readable media for the one or more processors are each configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to apply a same fault action to the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to a fault associated with an inverter chosen from the first power inverter and the second power inverter, wherein the same fault action includes applying equalized torque to each axle operatively coupled to the drive unit.

A dual power supply apparatus includes a main power grid that supplies power by a first battery to an autonomous vehicle and a redundant power grid that supplies power to a dual power load based on a second battery, in an emergency driving mode due to a failure in the main power grid.

A system includes a control board comprising: a microprocessor configured to output a PWM signal; a primary shutoff path circuit, an upper MOSFET shutoff circuit, and a lower MOSFET shutoff circuit, each of the circuits configured to receive the PWM signal; a first buffer provided at an output of the primary shutoff path circuit; a second buffer provided at an output of the upper MOSFET shutoff circuit; a third buffer provided at an output of the lower MOSFET shutoff circuit; a first resistor and a second resistor provided in parallel at the first buffer and configured to provide a first feedback signal; a third resistor and a fourth resistor provided in parallel at the second buffer and configured to provide a second feedback signal; and a fifth resistor and a sixth resistor provided in parallel at the third buffer and configured to provide a third feedback signal.

Certain aspects relate to a battery pack for an electric vehicle. Exemplary battery pack includes a first pouch cell and a vent configured to vent the ejecta from the first pouch cell. The first pouch cell includes at least an outer coating, at least a first pair of electrodes, at least a first pair of foil tabs electrically connected to the at least a first pair of electrodes, at least a first insulator layer located substantially between the at least a first pair of foil tabs, a first pouch substantially encompassing the at least a first pair of foil tabs and the at least a first insulator layer, and a first electrolyte within the first pouch. The battery pack is also configured to power at least a propulsor component.

Devices, systems, and methods for constant and reliable power distribution, using a redundant power bridge battery architecture, in autonomous vehicles are described. An example method includes determining that each of a plurality of sensors is operating within in a nominal range for the respective sensor, and distributing, based on the determining, power from at least one alternating current (AC) power source or at least one direct current (DC) power source to at least one power distribution unit (PDU), wherein a first power bridge is coupled to the at least one AC power source and the at least one DC power source and a second power bridge is coupled to the at least one DC power source and the at least one PDU, and wherein the plurality of sensors is used to monitor a health of the vehicle and any single point failure is detectable.

A control device includes a control circuit configured to control an inverter circuit that drives a motor by a plurality of switching elements coupled between DC buses, a first power supply system using a voltage source different from the DC buses as a power supply, a second power supply system using the DC buses as a power supply, and a switching circuit configured to switch a power supply system that supplies power to the control circuit from the first power supply system to the second power supply system when an abnormality in the first power supply system is detected. The control circuit continues control of the inverter circuit with a power consumption lower than that before the abnormality is detected in the first power supply system, when the abnormality is detected.