This research establishes an energy management method for the velocity planning of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ensure and enhance flying safety and economy. This method integrates the aerodynamic and economic models of an airplane, power train model, and battery electrothermal-degradation model. It applies the differential evolution algorithm (DEA). Optimizing the velocity profile and reducing the eVTOL aircraft’s power achieves a lower discharging rate and battery temperature, thus extending the battery lifespan and increasing profits over the battery lifetime. Compared with the original velocity profile, the optimized velocity extends the battery life by 41.7% and raises eVTOL aircraft profits by 1.8 times. Moreover, to obtain a suitable voltage platform and battery capacity for eVTOL aircraft, the influence of the serial-connected cell number on the eVTOL aircraft’s performance is also investigated. According to the results, raising the battery voltage by increasing the cell number can reduce the discharging rate, temperature, and capacity loss of the battery and increase the profits. However, numerous cells make an eVTOL aircraft overweight, rendering it unsuitable to take off. When the serial-connected cell number increases from 190 to 310, the battery lifespan is extended by 700 cycles, and the lifetime profit increases by U.S. 56259.9.
An Improved Velocity Planning Method for eVTOL Aircraft Based on Differential Evolution Algorithm Considering Flight Economy
IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification ; 11 , 1 ; 3980-3995
2025-02-01
4450156 byte
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English