Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

A storage station for unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircrafts includes a storage case (110) for accommodating an unmanned VTOL aircraft therein, a first coupling member (120) having one end pivotably coupled to an inner upper surface of the storage case and the other end protruding out of the storage case by a pivoting operation, and a second coupling member (130) provided at the other end of the first coupling member, in which one end of a main body of the unmanned VTOL aircraft is coupled to the second coupling member, and the second coupling member is rotatable about a rotation axis in a longitudinal direction of the first coupling member, whereby it is possible to provide an advantageous effect of simultaneously storing and charging multiple drones on sides, and it is particularly possible to provide an advantageous effect of charging and storing a large number of drones used in swarm flight technology, which has recently become increasingly useful.

A storage station for unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircrafts includes a storage case (110) for accommodating an unmanned VTOL aircraft therein, a first coupling member (120) having one end pivotably coupled to an inner upper surface of the storage case and the other end protruding out of the storage case by a pivoting operation, and a second coupling member (130) provided at the other end of the first coupling member, in which one end of a main body of the unmanned VTOL aircraft is coupled to the second coupling member, and the second coupling member is rotatable about a rotation axis in a longitudinal direction of the first coupling member, whereby it is possible to provide an advantageous effect of simultaneously storing and charging multiple drones on sides, and it is particularly possible to provide an advantageous effect of charging and storing a large number of drones used in swarm flight technology, which has recently become increasingly useful.

A launcher device includes a hopper having an open end disposed beneath a stack of UAVs. A retainer retains the UAVs in the hopper and releases one of the UAVs at the hopper's open end. A movable carriage disposed beneath the retainer receives the released UAV. The carriage is operable to be moved along a first direction from beneath the retainer to a terminus and subsequently operable to be moved along a second direction from the terminus to beneath the retainer. When moved in the first direction when the released UAV is on the carriage, the carriage moves the released UAV in the first direction to the terminus. A ramp aligned with the carriage guides the carriage along the ramp as the carriage is moved along the first and second directions.

A launcher device includes a hopper having an open end disposed beneath a stack of UAVs. A retainer retains the UAVs in the hopper and releases one of the UAVs at the hopper's open end. A movable carriage disposed beneath the retainer receives the released UAV. The carriage is operable to be moved along a first direction from beneath the retainer to a terminus and subsequently operable to be moved along a second direction from the terminus to beneath the retainer. When moved in the first direction when the released UAV is on the carriage, the carriage moves the released UAV in the first direction to the terminus. A ramp aligned with the carriage guides the carriage along the ramp as the carriage is moved along the first and second directions.

A drone delivery system hub and method for sending for take-off and receiving for landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The drone delivery system hub includes a center shaft frame, a parcel-conveying system supported by the center shaft frame, structural arms coupled to and extending outward from the center shaft frame in a spoke-like configuration, drone-conveying systems each supported by one of the structural arms, and a linking conveyor span. The drone-conveying system conveys the UAVs along a length of a correspond one of the structural arms toward and away from the center shaft frame. The linking conveyor span selectably rotates to different orientations between different pairs of the structural arms, selectively conveying a UAV thereon between any two of the structural arms. The linking conveyor span is located above the parcel-conveying system such for the UAV thereon to deposit and retrieve parcels from the parcel-conveying system.

A drone delivery system hub and method for sending for take-off and receiving for landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The drone delivery system hub includes a center shaft frame, a parcel-conveying system supported by the center shaft frame, structural arms coupled to and extending outward from the center shaft frame in a spoke-like configuration, drone-conveying systems each supported by one of the structural arms, and a linking conveyor span. The drone-conveying system conveys the UAVs along a length of a correspond one of the structural arms toward and away from the center shaft frame. The linking conveyor span selectably rotates to different orientations between different pairs of the structural arms, selectively conveying a UAV thereon between any two of the structural arms. The linking conveyor span is located above the parcel-conveying system such for the UAV thereon to deposit and retrieve parcels from the parcel-conveying system.

In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.

In various embodiments, specialized vehicle launch systems and methods are provided to enable personnel to launch and operate one or more UAVs from the safety of a vehicle or other mobile location. In various embodiments, a launch system comprises a launch device and an operator terminal. The launch device is adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of a vehicle and is communicably coupled to the operator terminal, which is operable from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle launch system allows an operator to control one or more UAVs from inside the vehicle, without requiring the operator to step outside of the vehicle to interact with the UAV or launch device.

The disclosure concerns a drone trailer system. The drone trailer system includes a rear door hingedly coupled to a distal end of a trailer. A first track system is disposed on the trailer at a floor thereof. A second track system is disposed on the rear door at an inner surface thereof. A movable platform is slidably engaged with the first track system, the second track system, or both. A drone is configured to sit on top of the moveable platform to allow for fast deployment.