US Patent 10273019 Distributed propulsion system power unit control

A propulsion system that includes a plurality of power units, a plurality of propulsors, where respective power units of the plurality of power units are controllably coupled to the plurality of propulsors, and a controller configured to receive a desired throttle value corresponding to a desired propulsive force, determine a number of power units of the plurality of power units to be coupled to the plurality of propulsors to achieve the desired propulsive force based on a respective power value associated with each respective power unit of the plurality of power units, and cause the number of power units of the plurality of power units to be coupled to the plurality of propulsors.