US 11,757,162 B1
Systems and methods for locking a battery for an electric aircraft
Braedon Lohe, Essex Junction, VT (US); Cullen Jemison, Winooski, VT (US); Andrew Giroux, Georgia, VT (US); and Tom Michael Hughes, Bristol, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/704,601.
Int. Cl. H01M 50/574 (2021.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B60L 58/10 (2019.01)
CPC H01M 50/574 (2021.01) [B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 58/10 (2019.02); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); H01M 10/4257 (2013.01); H01M 10/482 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01); H01M 2200/00 (2013.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for locking a battery for an electric aircraft, the system comprising:
an electric aircraft comprising a battery pack, wherein a high voltage (HV) connection is configured to electrically connect to the electric aircraft and the battery pack;
a lock attached to the battery pack and configured to electrically disconnect the battery pack from the electric aircraft when locked, wherein the lock is configured to only be unlocked manually by an acceptable user;
a voltage sensor communicatively connected to the lock, wherein the voltage sensor is configured to detect a voltage associated with the battery pack; and
an inertial measurement unit (IMU) communicatively connected to the lock, wherein the IMU is configured to detect a force experienced by the battery pack;
a controller communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, the IMU, and the lock, the controller configured to:
receive the voltage level from the voltage sensor and the force experienced by the battery pack from the IMU;
analyze the voltage and the force experienced by the battery pack to determine whether a critical event has occurred; and
lock the lock when the controller determines the critical event has occurred, wherein the lock is configured to electrically disconnect the battery pack from the electric aircraft when locked; and
authorize a user to manually unlock the lock as a function of determination of the critical event, wherein authorization of a user comprises distinguishing the acceptable users from unacceptable users.