Walking VTOL vehicles and related systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system can include one or more vertical thrust propulsion systems for providing vertical thrust for the vehicle, one or more horizontal thrust propulsion systems for providing horizontal thrust for the vehicle, and leg elements that are rotatable between a first configuration in which each leg element extends downwardly and a second configuration different from the first configuration. A representative method of operating a vehicle includes using vertical thrust to raise the vehicle upward, rotating a leg element forward, lowering the vehicle, and then rotating the leg element rearward to propel the vehicle forward.

An aircraft landing gear assembly including a plurality of noise-inducing elements, at least one of the noise-inducing elements comprising a brake assembly or electric drive assembly, and a noise reduction fairing arranged to shield only at least a portion of the brake assembly from incident airflow.

A bearing assembly of a hinge coupling first and second components includes an outer ring secured to the second component having an axial primary bore with a primary inner surface. An inner ring axially rotates, and has a primary outer surface rollingly contacting the primary inner surface, defining a primary sliding path with a primary friction coefficient. The inner ring includes a secondary axial bore with a secondary inner surface. An inner shaft in the secondary bore is secured to the first component and is axially rotatable. The inner shaft has a secondary outer surface rollingly contacting the secondary inner surface defining a secondary sliding path with a second friction coefficient. One of the sliding paths has a triboelectric layer surface frictionally generating an electrical current when that sliding path is engaged. A transmission element transmits, to a failure detection system, a signal due to such electrical current.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, a line having one end coupled to the chassis and an opposite free end, wherein the free end is positioned below the chassis, and a severing mechanism operable to sever the line under control of the control system.

A wheel well fairing for reducing drag on an aircraft fuselage configured with an open wheel well for stowing landing gear of the aircraft. The wheel well fairing includes a Coanda fairing having a convex-shaped lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is configured for positioning adjacent an interior vertically-orientated sidewall of the wheel well, and the convex-shaped lower portion has a bottom surface configured to extend substantially parallel to and positioned adjacent with an outer hull surface of the fuselage. The convex-shaped lower portion is curved inwardly within the wheel well between the upper portion and bottom surface. The Coanda fairing is positioned at an aft portion of the wheel well to redirect airflow out of the wheel well in a rearward direction along the bottom hull surface of the fuselage.

Aspects relate to systems and methods for controlling landing gear of an aircraft. An exemplary system includes a nose gear located at a nose of the aircraft, where the nose gear includes a nose piston configured to allow for displacement of a nose wheel relative the aircraft, a main gear located aft of the nose gear, where the main gear includes a main piston configured to allow for displacement of a main wheel relative the aircraft, a hydraulic circuit in fluidic communication with each of the nose piston and the main piston, and a compliant element in fluidic communication with the hydraulic circuit and configured to provide a compliant response at one or both of the nose piston and the main piston.

An electric VTOL aeronautical apparatus is disclosed that has folding wings each having an inboard wing portion coupled to an outboard portion via a hinge. Folding wings are known to be used during flight, although using a motor to fold and unfold the wings. In the present disclosure, the motor with its concomitant weight and complication is obviated or reduced by making the rotational axis of the hinge such that end of the hinge on the leading edge of the wing is displaced more outboard and lower than the end of the hinge on the trailing edge to allow the wing to fold and unfold passively. When in forward flight, a folded wing has more of the underside of the wing facing the flow, which pushes the wing upward, i.e., unfolding the wing. When the aeronautical apparatus transitions to vertical flight, gravity pulls the wings downward into the folded position.

An aircraft landing gear bay door 140 including an attachment mechanism suitable for pivotally mounting the door to an aircraft, a first side 141 arranged to face inwardly in relation to the aircraft landing gear bay when the door is closed and face towards one side of a main leg of the landing gear when the door is open and the landing gear is deployed, and a second opposite side 142. The shape formed from the first and second sides provides an aerofoil profile of the door. The invention also provides an aircraft landing gear arrangement 100, an aircraft 1000, methods of operating an aircraft and a method of reducing noise.

A tool for adjusting an orientation of a nose landing gear of an aircraft is disclosed herein. The nose landing gear has an axle to which a wheel is mounted. The axle has an opening extending therethrough. The opening is defined by an inner surface of the axle. The tool includes, but is not limited to, a unitary member having a handle portion at a first end of the unitary member and an axle-engaging portion at a second end of the unitary member. The handle portion is configured for engagement with a hand of an operator. The axle-engaging portion is configured to be inserted into the opening and to engage with the inner surface.

A base station configured for charging an autonomous drone may comprise a first conductive groove and a second conductive groove. The first conductive groove and the second conductive groove may be configured to interface with a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip disposed on a landing gear of the autonomous drone. The base station may be configured to charge a battery of the autonomous drone in response to the first conductive groove interfacing with the first conductive strip and the second conductive groove interfacing with the second conductive strip.