Toward Autonomous Stable Energy Management of Hybrid Electric Aircraft Propulsion Systems

We have demonstrated the ability of our Dynamic Monitoring and Decision Systems (DyMonDS) framework to structure a systems approach to the modeling and control of aircraft electric power systems. To begin, we selected two example aircraft power systems and developed dynamic models for those systems within the DyMonDS framework. Next, we derived optimized sets of control set points for the power systems. Each set of set points constituted an optimized allocation of resources under an assumed aircraft operating condition. A separate set of control set points was derived for each assumed operating condition. To do so the selected aircraft electric power systems were first mapped into equivalent terrestrial power systems. The NETSS optimization software for terrestrial electric power systems was then applied to optimize the aircraft power systems. Finally, we developed and stabilizing controllers for electric power system operation around each set point set. To do so, critical, and potentially unstable, aircraft electric power system dynamics were first identified for closed-loop control. Finally, the required controllers were designed and simulated to show that they indeed stabilized the dynamics around the prescribed set points. All accomplishments were greatly facilitated by the DyMonDS framework.