Suspension for landing condition

An adjustable damping system for an aerocar, the aerocar being configured to operate in a roadable mode and a flight mode, the adjustable damping system comprising:

• a front suspension assembly;
• a rear suspension assembly;
• a conduit system providing a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly;
• an auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir coupled to the conduit system and configured to selectively maintain or interrupt fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly to adjust damping of the front suspension assembly after a landing impact force is received by the rear suspension assembly;
• and
• a controller configured to direct a flow of hydraulic fluid within the conduit system and the auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir, wherein operation of the controller is based on the aerocar being in one of the roadable mode and the flight mode,
• at least one of the controller and the auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir being configured to increase an amount of damping of the front suspension assembly in a manner proportional to an angle of descent of a landing aerocar, whereby the landing impact force varies based on the angle of descent.

An aerocar with a dual mode suspension system, the aerocar being configured to operate in a roadable mode and a flight mode, the aerocar comprising:

• a wing system;
• a front suspension assembly having a front axle and at least one front wheel;
• a rear suspension assembly having a rear axle and at least one rear wheel;
• a conduit system providing a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly;
• a controller configured to change operation of the dual mode suspension system based on the aerocar being in one of the roadable mode and the flight mode;
• and
• an auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir coupled to the conduit system and configured to selectively maintain or interrupt fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly in order to adjust damping of the front suspension assembly,
• the rear suspension assembly being configured to compress upon receiving a landing impact force, thereby directing a flow of hydraulic fluid to the front suspension assembly.

An aerocar with a dual mode suspension system, the aerocar comprising:

• a front suspension assembly having a front axle and at least one front wheel;
• a rear suspension assembly having a rear axle and at least one rear wheel;
• a conduit system providing a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly;
• a controller configured to change operation of the dual mode suspension system between a roadable mode and a flight mode;
• and
• an auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir coupled to the conduit system and configured to selectively maintain or interrupt fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly in order to adjust damping of the front suspension assembly,
• the controller being configured to direct a flow of hydraulic fluid within the conduit system and the auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir, and
• at least one of the controller and the auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir being configured to increase an amount of damping of the front axle in a manner proportional to an angle of descent of a landing aerocar.

A method for adjusting damping characteristics of a suspension system of an aerocar during a landing event, a conduit system in the aerocar including a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between an auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir, a front suspension assembly, and a rear suspension assembly of the aerocar, the method comprising:

• selectively maintaining or interrupting the fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly based on an operational mode of the aerocar;
• and
• adjusting damping characteristics of the front suspension assembly upon receiving a landing impact by the rear suspension assembly,
• wherein adjusting damping characteristics comprises increasing damping of the front suspension assembly in an amount proportional to an angle of descent of the aerocar during landing, whereby the landing impact varies based on the angle of descent.