IP Library › Granted Patent US 12668382

Granted Patent B2

US 12668382 · App. 19/000,216 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing gear system for holding delivery canisters

Inventors: Julio Gil (Veldhoven, NL); Julian Bell (Decatur, GA)

Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

B64U60/50 B64C25/001 B64C25/34 B64D1/12 B64D1/22 B64D9/00 B64F1/32 B64U60/00 B64U10/13 B64U30/20 B64U2101/60 B64U2101/64 H01M2220/20

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12668382
App. No.: 19/000,216
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Landing gear, aspects of which are usable by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprises a first leg with a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end, and a second leg with a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end. The first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at an engagement location. A tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location, biasing the first leg landing end in the direction of the second leg landing end. The first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the rotational force when a downward force is applied to the engagement location.

Claims (43)

1 . Landing gear comprising:

a first leg comprising a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;

a second leg comprising a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at a first engagement location;

a first tensioning member applying a first rotational force about the first engagement location such that the first rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a first direction of the second leg landing end, wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the first rotational force when a downward force is applied to the first engagement location;

a third leg comprising a third leg landing end and a third leg connection end;

a fourth leg comprising a fourth leg landing end and a fourth leg connection end, wherein the third leg connection end is directly coupled to the fourth leg connection end at a second engagement location; and

a second tensioning member applying a second rotational force about the second engagement location such that the second rotational force biases the third leg landing end in a second direction of the fourth leg landing end, wherein the third leg and the fourth leg are configured to rotate against the second rotational force when the downward force is applied to the second engagement location.

2 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein;

the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and curves outward and away from the second leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged, and the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and curves outward and away from the first leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged; and

the third leg comprises a third leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and curves outward and away from the fourth leg when the third leg and the fourth leg are rotationally engaged, and the fourth leg comprises a fourth leg curved portion that is adjacent to the fourth leg connection end and curves outward and away from the third leg when the third leg and the fourth leg are rotationally engaged.

3 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, the second leg comprises a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end, the third leg comprises a third leg straight portion adjacent to the third leg landing end, and the fourth leg comprises a fourth leg straight portion adjacent to the fourth leg landing end.

4 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein:

the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, the first leg curved portion adjoining the first leg straight portion,

the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end, the second leg curved portion adjoining the second leg straight portion,

the third leg comprises a third leg curved portion that is adjacent to the third leg connection end and a third leg straight portion adjacent to the third leg landing end, the third leg curved portion adjoining the third leg straight portion, and

the fourth leg comprises a fourth leg curved portion that is adjacent to the fourth leg connection end and a fourth leg straight portion adjacent to the fourth leg landing end, the fourth leg curved portion adjoining the fourth leg straight portion.

5 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel, the third leg landing end comprises a third landing wheel, the fourth leg landing end comprises a fourth landing wheel, the first landing wheel is configured to move in a direction away from the second landing wheel, and the third landing wheel is configured to move in the direction away from the fourth landing wheel.

6 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel rotating about a first axel, the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel rotating about a second axel, the third leg landing end comprises a third landing wheel rotating about the first axel, the fourth leg landing end comprises a fourth landing wheel rotating about the second axel, and the first axel extends parallel to the second axel.

7 . The landing gear of claim 1 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel, the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel, the third leg landing end comprises a third landing wheel, the fourth leg landing end comprises a fourth landing wheel, and each of the first landing wheel, the second landing wheel, the third landing wheel, and the fourth landing wheel rotatesrotating within a same theoretical plane of rotation.

8 . An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

landing gear comprising:

a first leg comprising a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;

a second leg comprising a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is directly coupled to the second leg connection end at an engagement location; and

a tensioning member applying a rotational force about the engagement location such that the rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a direction of the second leg landing end, wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to rotate against the rotational force when a downward force is applied to the engagement location.

9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and curves outward and away from the second leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged, and the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and curves outward and away from the first leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged.

10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, and the second leg comprises a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end.

11 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, the first leg curved portion adjoining the first leg straight portion, and the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end, the second leg curved portion adjoining the second leg straight portion.

12 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel and the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel, and the first landing wheel is configured to move in a direction away from the second landing wheel.

13 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel rotating about a first axel and the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel rotating about a second axel, the first axel extending parallel to the second axel.

14 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel and the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel, each of the first landing wheel and the second landing wheel rotating within a same theoretical plane of rotation.

15 . A method comprising:

positioning an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such that a gap formed from a first leg of a landing gear and a second leg of the landing gear is at a location proximate a canister, wherein:

the first leg comprises a first leg landing end and a first leg connection end;

the second leg comprises a second leg landing end and a second leg connection end, wherein the first leg connection end is configured to rotationally engage the second leg connection end of the second leg at an engagement location; and

a tensioning member applies a rotational force about the engagement location such that the rotational force biases the first leg landing end in a direction of the second leg landing end when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged;

securing the canister between the first leg and the second leg by lowering the UAV;

landing the UAV; and

releasing the canister by placing a rotor into a reverse thrust to generate a downward force that rotates the first leg and the second leg.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and curves outward and away from the second leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged, and the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and curves outward and away from the first leg when the first leg and the second leg are rotationally engaged.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, and the second leg comprises a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first leg comprises a first leg curved portion that is adjacent to the first leg connection end and a first leg straight portion adjacent to the first leg landing end, the first leg curved portion adjoining the first leg straight portion, and the second leg comprises a second leg curved portion that is adjacent to the second leg connection end and a second leg straight portion adjacent to the second leg landing end, the second leg curved portion adjoining the second leg straight portion.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel and the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel, and the first landing wheel is configured to move in a direction away from the second landing wheel.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first leg landing end comprises a first landing wheel rotating about a first axel and the second leg landing end comprises a second landing wheel rotating about a second axel, the first axel extending parallel to the second axel.