Overview of the HEKA Battery Management System
HEKA Aero is proud to present its next-generation Battery Management System (BMS)—a robust, aviation- and defense-standard solution designed to deliver exceptional efficiency, reliability, and scalability. This BMS supports configurations of up to 60V and 150A, ensuring high-performance power management for a wide range of platforms, including aerospace, defense, and high-power applications.
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Our system is built to comply with DO-178 and DO-254 standards, cementing its reliability for industries where safety and precision are critical. Whether you are building UAVs, electric vehicles, or autonomous maritime systems, the HEKA BMS guarantees unmatched performance through innovative technologies like passive cell balancing, real-time state estimation, and multi-chemistry support.
Why Choose the HEKA Battery Management System?
Managing batteries effectively is critical for today’s complex platforms. Balancing power, performance, and longevity can become a challenge without proper tools in place. Traditional systems often fall short when it comes to handling multiple battery chemistries, ensuring seamless cell balancing, or providing continuous health monitoring. HEKA’s BMS addresses these challenges head-on by offering a solution that is efficient, customizable, and capable of adapting to various operational conditions.
Key Features & Capabilities
1. Flexible Battery Configurations and Scalability
- Supports 1-4P and 4S-13S configurations for maximum flexibility.
- Easily adaptable to various chemistries, including:Lead AcidLi-Ion/Li-PolymerLiFePO4
With scalable configurations, the HEKA BMS is perfect for both lightweight UAV applications and heavy-duty defense equipment, ensuring optimal performance across diverse platforms.
2. Superior Efficiency and Cell Balancing
- Greater than 99% efficiency ensures minimal energy loss during charge cycles.
- Passive cell balancing algorithms maintain voltage uniformity across all cells without requiring additional hardware, extending battery life while reducing heat and energy waste.
3. Built-in Safety & Protection Mechanisms
- Overcharge and short-circuit protection safeguards batteries from damage in harsh conditions.
- Monitors the performance of individual cells, allowing early detection of anomalies and predictive maintenance.
4. Communication and Integration Capabilities
- Supports multiple communication protocols, including:CAN, LIN, USB, NMEA, Ethernet, Serial, and Wi-Fi
- Seamlessly integrates with existing platforms, enhancing compatibility with autonomous systems, remote monitoring tools, and IoT devices.
BMS Modeling and Simulation with Simulink
We leverage Simulink to create highly detailed models of battery behavior, enabling us to simulate:
- Charge/discharge cycles
- Battery aging scenarios
- Various charging conditions
Through these simulations, we have built and refined a custom State of Charge (SOC) model using Coulomb counting. We continuously validate the model against the built-in SOC port provided by the table-based battery block in Simscape Battery, ensuring our calculations are both accurate and reliable.
This approach helps predict battery health and state of charge in real-time, providing critical insights to maximize battery longevity and ensure peak performance.
The Future of Battery Management Systems: State of Charge & Health Monitoring
The HEKA BMS not only calculates State of Charge (SOC) but also monitors State of Health (SOH) to predict how well the battery will perform over time. This capability is essential for ensuring long-term reliability, particularly in industries where downtime is costly. With advanced analytics and real-time monitoring, operators can optimize performance, prevent failures, and make data-driven maintenance decisions.
Why the HEKA Battery Management System is a Game-Changer
Our BMS provides a complete solution that addresses the core challenges of modern battery management systems. With high efficiency, multi-protocol communication, and advanced safety mechanisms, it ensures your systems remain operational under any conditions. By offering flexibility across multiple chemistries and platforms, the HEKA BMS is ideal for applications ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to autonomous maritime systems.
Our goal is not just to manage batteries but to empower industries by providing state-of-the-art tools that enable smarter energy use, extend battery lifespans, and improve overall system efficiency.
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Battery Management Systems
At HEKA Aero, we believe that innovative power management is essential to driving progress in aerospace, defense, and beyond. If you’re interested in learning more about the HEKA Battery Management System or exploring how it can enhance your operations, we invite you to reach out to us for further discussion.
Together, let’s create a future where energy efficiency meets reliability, and cutting-edge technology powers the next generation of systems.
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Read the rest of our blogs here: https://heka.works/blog/
or learn more about Battery Management Systems over at: https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/applications/solutions/battery-management-system/
Written by Stephen Stilwell, Engineer @ HEKA
