An autonomous base station for unmanned aerial vehicles (‘UAVs’) is disclosed, which includes a landing surface for a UAV, configured with at least one power transfer bus for supplying power to a power source of a UAV thereon. The base station further includes a networking module and data processing means operably connected to, and configured to control, the power transfer bus and the networking module. The data processing means is operably connected to the UAV through the networking module, and further configured to receive, store and process data from the UAV or another. The base station further includes a power supply operably connected to the or each power transfer bus, the or each networking module and the data processing means. A network of at least two such base stations is also disclosed, for sensing, modelling and monitoring an environment with UAVs.

Various embodiments provide systems and/or methods for automated maintenance, delivery, retrieval, and/or communications using drones.

Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing station configured to mount onto a non-horizontal surface; a landing area i) connected to the landing station and ii) with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a fixed member i) connected to the landing station and that ii) includes a third surface near an end of the landing area and iii) is configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member i) connected to the landing station and ii) that is configured to a) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area and b) secure the landing gear of the drone substantially in place between the first surface of the landing area and the third surface of the fixed member.

Stations for a drone are described as well as a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property using one or more drones. The drone is launched from a docking station and configured to navigate the property to perform operations to monitor the property. The docking station is located at an area of the property. The docking station includes a landing surface that is parallel to a particular area of the property that supports the docking station. A positioning surface of the docking station slopes toward the landing surface. The positioning surface, including its slope, is configured to receive the drone and guide the drone toward the landing surface.

Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing area with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a docking area i) with a first end adjacent to the landing area and a second opposite end and ii) a docking surface configured to contact the second surface of the landing gear of the drone; a fixed member i) with a third surface adjacent to the second end of the docking area and ii) configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member configured to i) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area onto the docking surface and ii) secure the landing gear of the drone in place between the docking surface of the docking area and the third surface of the fixed member.

A response system may be provided. The response system may include a security system and an autonomous drone. The security system includes a security sensor and a controller. The drone includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, and a drone sensor. The processor may be programmed to receive the deployment request from the security system, navigate to the one or more zones of the coverage area included in the deployment request, collect drone sensor data of the one or more zones of the coverage area using the at least one drone sensor, determine that an incident has occurred, and/or transmit the collected drone sensor data and incident verification to the security system, wherein, in response to receiving the collected drone sensor data and incident verification, the security system is configured to generate a command for responding to the incident.

A drone docking structure of an autonomous vehicle can include: a coil housing having a space for docking a drone to the vehicle; a docking cover configured to open or close a top portion of the coil housing according to whether the drone is docked; and a motor housing installed on a side surface of the coil housing and including a motor configured to actuate the docking cover.

A base station is disclosed that is configured for use with a UAV. The base station includes: an enclosure with an outer housing that defines a roof section and an inner housing that is connected to the outer housing; one or more heating elements that are supported by the enclosure and which are configured to heat the roof section; one or more fiducials that are supported by the enclosure; an illumination system that is supported by the enclosure and which is configured to illuminate the one or more fiducials; and a visualization system that is supported by the enclosure.

A vertiport exchange station has a plurality of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air taxis, a plurality of landing/takeoff pads arranged in a rectangular pattern, a passenger terminal for arrival and departure of passengers, a plurality of electric motor driven chassis each adapted to carry a pod adapted to carry one or more passengers, a transfer path guiding the chassis in a closed loop, and a control system. One or more incoming passengers enter a pod at the passenger terminal, an air taxi is guided to a specific pad, the chassis carrying the pod is transported to a point near the specific pad, is guided to stop on the specific pad, the air taxi is guided to connect to the pod, the pod is detached from the chassis, and the air taxi is guided to ascend and to proceed to a programmed destination.

A vertiport exchange station has a plurality of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air taxis, a plurality of landing/takeoff pads arranged in a rectangular pattern, a passenger terminal for arrival and departure of passengers, a plurality of electric motor driven chassis each adapted to carry a pod adapted to carry one or more passengers, a transfer path guiding the chassis in a closed loop, and a control system. One or more incoming passengers enter a pod at the passenger terminal, an air taxi is guided to a specific pad, the chassis carrying the pod is transported to a point near the specific pad, is guided to stop on the specific pad, the air taxi is guided to connect to the pod, the pod is detached from the chassis, and the air taxi is guided to ascend and to proceed to a programmed destination.