ACTIVE LANDING GEAR DAMPER

• Main Authors: BOLUKBASI, Akif O, BIRCHETTE, Terrence S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.03.2019
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; HELICOPTERS; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

An active landing gear damping system and method for decelerating a vehicle during a terrain impact event, such as an aircraft landing or crash. The system monitors aircraft state data and terrain information to predict an impact of the vehicle with the terrain. The system can then determine a target damper force for each landing gear of the vehicle and a predicted damper velocity at the time of impact. Each landing gear can include an adjustable damper valve, wherein adjustment of the damper valves varies the damping coefficient of the respective dampers. The system can adjust valves of the respective dampers to provide the target force based on the predicted damper velocity. After an impact begins, the system can continuously monitor and adjust the valve to maintain the target force.