Abstract: An aircraft provided with a power plant provided with at least one combustion engine mechanically connected to a drive system, the drive system comprising two electric machines each connected to the combustion engine by a kinematic chain, the two electric machines being electrically connected to at least one electrical power source. The aircraft comprises a management system controlling at least a mechanical power or an engine torque delivered by each of the two electric machines as a function of a current operating mode, the management system being configured, during a superior operating mode, to control the two electric machines in order for the two electric machines to deliver different and non-zero mechanical powers or engine torques.

Abstract: A method of electrically powering a non-voltage-regulated electricity network, and also to an electrical architecture. The electrical architecture comprises: a plurality of sources of electrical energy including both at least one rechargeable electrical energy storage device and also an electrical power generation device a main electricity network electrically connected directly to the sources of electrical energy; and pieces of electrical equipment electrically powered by the main electricity network. The method comprises both a first powering step for electrically powering the main electricity network by the rechargeable electrical energy storage device and also a second powering step for electrically powering the main electricity network by the electrical power generation device, followed by a regulating step for regulating an internal voltage of the electrical power generation device as a function of the first power delivered by the rechargeable electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: A method and system of preparing a drone for takeoff are disclosed. The drone has at least one first control member and at least one second control member that are suitable for being actuated manually by at least one person in charge of preparing the drone for takeoff. The drone also includes a navigation light and at least one anticollision light for generating various mutually different light signals in a predetermined switch-on sequence.

Abstract: An aircraft of a modular type including: at least one rotor suitable for providing in full or in part propulsion and/or lift for the aircraft; at least one power plant of the combustion engine type or of the electric motor type; a main gearbox, for mechanically transmitting drive torque generated by the at least one power plant to the at least one rotor; and an avionics system for assisting in piloting the aircraft. In accordance with the invention, the avionics system is configured for automatically providing the assistance in piloting the aircraft when the aircraft has a first power plant only or when the aircraft has a first power plant and a second power plant.

Abstract: A method for managing the energy supplied by a hybrid power plant for propelling a rotorcraft, the hybrid power plant comprising two heat engines, two electric motors and an electrical energy source. The method includes a step of acquiring at least one first characteristic of the electrical energy source and/or the electric motors and a step of determining a mechanical power requirement of the rotorcraft. The method then includes a step of determining a first power distribution between each heat engine and electric motor as a function of the first characteristic and the mechanical power requirement of the rotorcraft, then a step of controlling each heat engine and electric motor according to several operating modes, including a distributed operating mode applying the first power distribution.

Abstract: A method and to a device for managing energy of a hybrid power plant of a multi-rotor aircraft during a flight. The hybrid power plant comprises a thermal engine, an electricity generator, and a plurality of electric motors, together with a plurality of electrical energy storage devices. The aircraft has a plurality of rotors driven in rotation by respective electric motors. The flight of the aircraft comprises a takeoff stage, a cruising stage, and a landing stage, the takeoff stage and the landing stage being performed solely while consuming electrical energy. The method enables an electrification ratio RElec of the flight to be calculated as a function of the amounts of electrical and thermal energy that are consumed during the takeoff, landing, and cruising stages, thereby limiting the use of the thermal engine to the least possible amount during the cruising stage, and consequently reducing the associated nuisance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft provided with a rotary airfoil, a power plant and an assistance system having an electric motor. The power plant comprises a power transmission box and at least one heat engine. The aircraft includes at least one accessory which is set in motion by a secondary output shaft of the power transmission box. The assistance system is provided with a mechanical connection module having a connection shaft which is connected to the secondary output shaft. A first connection member is connected to said at least one accessory and is connected by a first mechanical link internal to the connection shaft, a second connection member being connected to the electric motor and connected by a second mechanical link internal to the connection shaft.

Abstract: A method of electrically powering a non-voltage-regulated electricity network, and also to an electrical architecture. The electrical architecture comprises: a plurality of sources of electrical energy including both at least one rechargeable electrical energy storage device and also an electrical power generation advice a main electricity network electrically connected directly to the sources of electrical energy; and pieces of electrical equipment electrically powered by the main electricity network. The method comprises both a first powering step for electrically powering the main electricity network by the rechargeable electrical energy storage device and also a second powering step for electrically powering the main electricity network by the electrical power generation advice, followed by a regulating step for regulating an internal voltage of the electrical power generation advice as a function of the first power delivered by the rechargeable electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: An aircraft of a modular type including: at least one rotor suitable for providing in full or in part propulsion and/or lift for the aircraft; at least one power plant of the combustion engine type or of the electric motor type; a main gearbox, for mechanically transmitting drive torque generated by the at least one power plant to the at least one rotor; and an avionics system for assisting in piloting the aircraft. In accordance with the invention, the avionics system is configured for automatically providing the assistance in piloting the aircraft when the aircraft has a first power plant only or when the aircraft has a first power plant and a second power plant.

Abstract: A method and to a device for managing energy of a hybrid power plant of a multi-rotor aircraft during a flight. The hybrid power plant comprises a thermal engine, an electricity generator, and a plurality of electric motors, together with a plurality of electrical energy storage devices. The aircraft has a plurality of rotors driven in rotation by respective electric motors. The flight of the aircraft comprises a takeoff stage, a cruising stage, and a landing stage, the takeoff stage and the landing stage being performed solely while consuming electrical energy. The method enables an electrification ratio RElec of the flight to be calculated as a function of the amounts of electrical and thermal energy that are consumed during the takeoff, landing, and cruising stages, thereby limiting the use of the thermal engine to the least possible amount during the cruising stage, and consequently reducing the associated nuisance.

Abstract: A method of preparing a drone for takeoff, to a drone, and to a system for preparing the drone for takeoff. According to the invention, such a drone has at least one first control member and at least one second control member that are suitable for being actuated manually by at least one person in charge of preparing the drone for takeoff. Such a drone also includes a navigation light and at least one anticollision light for generating various mutually different light signals in a predetermined switch-on sequence.

Abstract: A hybrid power plant (5) for an aircraft (1) comprises at least: a hybrid drive system (37) having a main on-board electricity network (16) and an auxiliary electricity network (34); and a selective adaptation interface (38) arranged to enable electrical energy to be exchanged selectively between the main and auxiliary electricity networks (16; 34). At least one engine and a hybrid drive auxiliary electrical machine (7, 31) are mechanically connected to a transmission (8); said machine (7) being electrically connected to at least one auxiliary electrical bus (36) in parallel with at least one auxiliary device for delivering electric charge.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and a method for starting at least one turbine engine (1) fitted to a helicopter. A starter (6) is fed with electrical energy from an electricity network (8) including at least one battery (9) and/or an electrical energy generator member. Discharge members (10) suitable for providing the starter (6) with a short-term boost of electrical energy in the form of a high-power pulse are incorporated in the network (8). The current pulse is delivered at a determined instant T starting from when the starter (6) is itself started, and/or from a determined threshold S for the speed and/or the variation in the speed with which the compressor (2) of the turbine engine (1) is driven, and/or from detecting D the ignition stage of the turbine engine (1), and/or from a manual control.

Abstract: A hybrid power plant (5) for an aircraft (1) comprises at least: a hybrid drive system (37) having a main on-board electricity network (16) and an auxiliary electricity network (34); and a selective adaptation interface (38) arranged to enable electrical energy to be exchanged selectively between the main and auxiliary electricity networks (16; 34). At least one engine and a hybrid drive auxiliary electrical machine (7, 31) are mechanically connected to a transmission (8); said machine (7) being electrically connected to at least one auxiliary electrical bus (36) in parallel with at least one auxiliary device for delivering electric charge.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and a method for starting at least one turbine engine (1) fitted to a helicopter. A starter (6) is fed with electrical energy from an electricity network (8) including at least one battery (9) and/or an electrical energy generator member. Discharge members (10) suitable for providing the starter (6) with a short-term boost of electrical energy in the form of a high-power pulse are incorporated in the network (8). The current pulse is delivered at a determined instant T starting from when the starter (6) is itself started, and/or from a determined threshold S for the speed and/or the variation in the speed with which the compressor (2) of the turbine engine (1) is driven, and/or from detecting D the ignition stage of the turbine engine (1), and/or from a manual control.