A flying machine includes a flying machine body including a rotor blade; a frame including a frame body supporting the flying machine body, and a pressing section that is pressed against a target object at least at two locations separated along a direction orthogonal to a width direction of the frame body; and a detector fixed to the frame, and having a detection direction that is a direction orthogonal to a direction joining the two locations together and facing toward the target object.

A deployable aircraft flotation system. The deployable aircraft flotation system includes a pair of flotation members. The pair of flotation members are positioned on opposing sides of a bottom surface of an aircraft body. Each flotation member of the pair of flotation members has an inner layer that is made of a first buoyant material, an outer layer that is made of a second buoyant material, and a middle layer between the inner layer and the outer layer that is made of a rigid material. The flotation members can be moved from a stowed position, where they are stored in housings, to a deployed position, where they emerge and are positioned on the bottom of the plane.

The invention provides a drive system for rotating a wheel of an aircraft landing gear. The drive system includes a motor operable to rotate a drive pinion, and a driven gear adapted to be mounted to the wheel. The drive system has a first configuration in which the drive pinion is capable of meshing with the driven gear to permit the motor to drive the driven gear and a second configuration in which the drive pinion is not capable of meshing with the driven gear. The drive system includes a linear positioning actuator for moving the drive pinion relative to the driven gear. The positioning actuator has a first end and a second end, the first end having a pivotal connection with a pivot axis spaced at a fixed distance from an axis of rotation of the driven gear, and the second end having a pivotal connection with a pivot axis spaced at a fixed distance from an axis of rotation of the drive pinion.

The invention provides a drive system for rotating a wheel of an aircraft landing gear. The drive system includes a motor operable to rotate a drive pinion, and a driven gear adapted to be mounted to the wheel. The drive system has a first configuration in which the drive pinion is capable of meshing with the driven gear to permit the motor to drive the driven gear and a second configuration in which the drive pinion is not capable of meshing with the driven gear. The drive system includes a linear positioning actuator for moving the drive pinion relative to the driven gear. The positioning actuator has a first end and a second end, the first end having a pivotal connection with a pivot axis spaced at a fixed distance from an axis of rotation of the driven gear, and the second end having a pivotal connection with a pivot axis spaced at a fixed distance from an axis of rotation of the drive pinion.

An aircraft landing gear assembly including structural members coupled via a coupling including a bearing. The bearing has a body defining a first bearing surface arranged to contact a first counter-face of the coupling. The first bearing surface is defined by a first tubular layer of fibre reinforced polymer of a first type having an axis and containing synthetic fibres of a first type wound around and along the axis of the bearing. The bearing body further has a second tubular layer of fibre reinforced polymer of a second type containing synthetic fibres of a second type wound around and along the axis of the bearing.

A method for controlling an aircraft taxiing system, comprising the steps of: generating a nominal load command (Comm_nom); generating an acceleration setpoint (Cons_a); implementing, in parallel with the generation of the nominal load command, a processing chain (7) comprising a regulation loop (Br), the regulation loop (Br) having for its setpoint the acceleration setpoint (Cons_a) and for its command an acceleration command (Comm_a), the acceleration command being converted into an acceleration load (Eff_a), a maximum load threshold being equal to the maximum of the acceleration load (Eff_a) and a minimum load threshold (Seuil_min); and generating an optimised load command (Comm_opt) equal to the minimum of the nominal load command and the maximum load threshold.

A method for controlling an aircraft taxiing system, comprising the steps of: generating a nominal load command (Comm_nom); generating an acceleration setpoint (Cons_a); implementing, in parallel with the generation of the nominal load command, a processing chain (7) comprising a regulation loop (Br), the regulation loop (Br) having for its setpoint the acceleration setpoint (Cons_a) and for its command an acceleration command (Comm_a), the acceleration command being converted into an acceleration load (Eff_a), a maximum load threshold being equal to the maximum of the acceleration load (Eff_a) and a minimum load threshold (Seuil_min); and generating an optimised load command (Comm_opt) equal to the minimum of the nominal load command and the maximum load threshold.

A helicopter includes a propulsion system, gimbal assembly, and a controller. The propulsion system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly. The first rotor assembly comprises a first motor coupled to a first rotor and the second rotor assembly comprises a second motor coupled to a second rotor. The second rotor is coaxial to the first rotor and is configured to be counter-rotating to the first rotor. The gimbal assembly couples a fuselage of the helicopter to the propulsion system. The controller is communicably coupled to the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide instructions to the gimbal assembly in order to weight-shift the fuselage of the helicopter, thereby controlling movements of the helicopter.

A helicopter includes a propulsion system, gimbal assembly, and a controller. The propulsion system includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly. The first rotor assembly comprises a first motor coupled to a first rotor and the second rotor assembly comprises a second motor coupled to a second rotor. The second rotor is coaxial to the first rotor and is configured to be counter-rotating to the first rotor. The gimbal assembly couples a fuselage of the helicopter to the propulsion system. The controller is communicably coupled to the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide instructions to the gimbal assembly in order to weight-shift the fuselage of the helicopter, thereby controlling movements of the helicopter.

An aircraft landing gear includes an axle on which wheel and brake assemblies are mounted. An adaptor member is mounted on the axle and arranged to define a brake rod connection point that is distinct from a conventional brake rod connection point defined by the brake assembly. The adaptor member is coupled to the brake assembly via an adaptor linkage that is arranged to react brake torque but arranged to permit relative movement between the adaptor member and the brake assembly in degrees of freedom which are not required to react brake torque.