US 12,286,217 B2
Automatic emergency landing gear extension system
Nicholas D. Lappos, Beryl, UT (US); and Christopher A. Thornberg, Newtown, CT (US)
Assigned to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on May 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/824,213.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382519 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 25/28 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64D 45/04 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 25/28 (2013.01) [B64D 45/04 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for automatically controlling landing gear responsive to detected aerial vehicle conditions, comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors coupled to memory of an aerial vehicle, from one or more sensors of the aerial vehicle, altitude information and speed information of the aerial vehicle;
determining, by the one or more processors, to extend landing gear of the aerial vehicle based on a change in a state of the aerial vehicle;
identifying, by the one or more processors, a curve that varies as a function of altitude and speed of the aerial vehicle in a multivariate space and is established according to a type of the aerial vehicle and the state of the aerial vehicle, wherein the curve defines a first region in the multivariate space that indicates landing gear is to be lowered and a second region in the multivariate space that indicates landing gear is not to be lowered;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the speed information and the altitude information are within the first region of the multivariate space defined by the curve to determine that a condition to lower the landing gear is satisfied; and
responsive to determining that the condition to lower the landing gear is satisfied, providing, by the one or more processors, a signal to lower the landing gear.