PARALLEL CONTROL LOOPS FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT

A method of controlling a hybrid-electric aircraft powerplant (102) includes running a first control loop for command of a thermal engine (104) based on error between total response commanded for a hybrid-electric powerplant (102) and total response from the hybrid-electric powerplant (102). A second control loop runs in parallel with the first control loop for commanding the thermal engine (104) based on error between maximum thermal engine output and total response commanded. A third control loop runs in parallel with the first and second control loops for commanding engine/propeller speed, wherein the third control loop outputs a speed control enable or disable status. A fourth control loop runs in parallel with the first, second, and third control loops for commanding the electric motor with non-zero demand when the second control loop is above control to add response from the electric motor to response from the thermal engine (104) to achieve the response commanded.