Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks
stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect
to the wheel support and wheel. The invention can provide motive force to
the wheel when electrical power is applied, e.g. prior to touch-down,
thus decreasing the difference in relative velocities of the tire radial
velocity with that of the relative velocity of the runway and reducing
the sliding friction wear of the tire. After touchdown the wheel hub
motor/generator may be used as a generator thus applying a regenerative
braking force and/or a motorized braking action to the wheel. The energy
generated upon landing maybe dissipated through a resistor and/or stored
for later use in providing a source for motive power to the aircraft
wheels for taxiing and ground maneuvers of the aircraft. Methods and
apparatuses for nose gear steering and ABS braking using the disclosed
invention are described.