The present disclosure relates to unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), systems, and methods for efficiently and safely landing while improving flight performance. In particular, the disclosure incudes a light-weight, gravity-fed, self-deploying landing gear assembly that aligns to the direction of the runway upon landing. For example, the landing gear assembly can include a pin switch and a tear-through barrier that releases and deploys the landing gear assembly. Additionally, the landing gear assembly can include castering wheels that rotate (i.e., swivel) while the UAV is in flight. Furthermore, the landing gear assembly can include friction-disks to reduce the rotation of the castering wheels when the landing gear assembly contacts the ground and receives the weight of the UAV. Moreover, the landing gear assembly can detect that the UAV has landed and can signal the UAV to initiate a roll stop mechanism.

The present disclosure relates to unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), systems, and methods for efficiently and safely landing while improving flight performance. In particular, the disclosure incudes a light-weight, gravity-fed, self-deploying landing gear assembly that aligns to the direction of the runway upon landing. For example, the landing gear assembly can include a pin switch and a tear-through barrier that releases and deploys the landing gear assembly. Additionally, the landing gear assembly can include castering wheels that rotate (i.e., swivel) while the UAV is in flight. Furthermore, the landing gear assembly can include friction-disks to reduce the rotation of the castering wheels when the landing gear assembly contacts the ground and receives the weight of the UAV. Moreover, the landing gear assembly can detect that the UAV has landed and can signal the UAV to initiate a roll stop mechanism.

A landing gear actuation system is disclosed herein. The landing gear actuation system includes a trunnion sprocket coupled to a movable member, a drive motor, and a flexible drive member extending between and to the motor and the trunnion sprocket. The motor is configured to move the flexible drive member, wherein the movement of the flexible drive member moves the trunnion sprocket and the movable member. The flexible drive member may be a belt or a chain.

A landing gear actuation system is disclosed herein. The landing gear actuation system includes a trunnion sprocket coupled to a movable member, a drive motor, and a flexible drive member extending between and to the motor and the trunnion sprocket. The motor is configured to move the flexible drive member, wherein the movement of the flexible drive member moves the trunnion sprocket and the movable member. The flexible drive member may be a belt or a chain.

A folding trailing arm landing gear assembly having a main fitting configured to couple to a hinge positioned at a proximal end; a swing arm rotatably coupled at a proximal end to a distal end of the main fitting; a shock coupled at a distal end to a distal end of the swing arm; a bellcrank coupled at a distal end to a proximal end of the shock, and coupled at a proximal end to the main fitting; and a wheel coupled to the swing arm.

A folding trailing arm landing gear assembly having a main fitting configured to couple to a hinge positioned at a proximal end; a swing arm rotatably coupled at a proximal end to a distal end of the main fitting; a shock coupled at a distal end to a distal end of the swing arm; a bellcrank coupled at a distal end to a proximal end of the shock, and coupled at a proximal end to the main fitting; and a wheel coupled to the swing arm.

A folding trailing arm landing gear assembly having a main fitting configured to couple to a hinge positioned at a proximal end; a swing arm rotatably coupled at a proximal end to a distal end of the main fitting; a shock coupled at a distal end to a distal end of the swing arm; a bellcrank coupled at a distal end to a proximal end of the shock, and coupled at a proximal end to the main fitting; and a wheel coupled to the swing arm.

A folding trailing arm landing gear assembly having a main fitting configured to couple to a hinge positioned at a proximal end; a swing arm rotatably coupled at a proximal end to a distal end of the main fitting; a shock coupled at a distal end to a distal end of the swing arm; a bellcrank coupled at a distal end to a proximal end of the shock, and coupled at a proximal end to the main fitting; and a wheel coupled to the swing arm.

A system for use with a landing gear of an aircraft includes a drag brace assembly having an upper end configured to be rotatably coupled to the aircraft and a lower end configured to be rotatably coupled to a shock strut of the landing gear. The system further includes a jury linkage having a brace portion configured to be pivotally coupled to the drag brace assembly and a strut portion pivotally coupled to the brace portion and configured to be rotatably coupled to the shock strut.

A system for use with a landing gear of an aircraft includes a drag brace assembly having an upper end configured to be rotatably coupled to the aircraft and a lower end configured to be rotatably coupled to a shock strut of the landing gear. The system further includes a jury linkage having a brace portion configured to be pivotally coupled to the drag brace assembly and a strut portion pivotally coupled to the brace portion and configured to be rotatably coupled to the shock strut.