| 摘要 |
An electro-mechanical power distribution apparatus 100, for example for a multi-rotor aerial vehicle, comprises an engine 104 outputting mechanical power to a plurality of output shafts 106-1, 106-2 to be received by a plurality of mechanical loads, for example wheels of a road vehicle or propellers of an aerial vehicle. A motor/generator unit 108-1, 108-2 is associated with each output shaft 106-1, 106-2, and can convert electrical power to mechanical power in its output shaft and vice versa. A power switching network 112 interconnects the motor/generator units 108-1, 108-2. A controller 110 is configured to operate a first motor/generator 108-1 as a generator and a second motor/generator 108-2 as a motor, and to route electrical power through network 112 from first motor/generator 108-1 to second motor/generator 108-2. Preferably four output shafts are provided, with mechanical power from the engine split two ways in a primary gearbox and each output from the primary gearbox split two ways. |
