An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a power source. The power source includes: one or more power cells; one or more thermal transfer members that are thermally connected to the one or more power cells; and a heat exchanger that is thermally connected to the one or more thermal transfer members such that the one or more thermal transfer members and the heat exchanger facilitate a transfer of thermal energy between the power source and ambient air to decrease or increase temperature of the power source.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for autonomously performing and/or facilitating drone diagnostic functions. Prior to a mission of a UAV, an inspection station comprising at least one imaging sensor and at least one directional force sensor may be used to perform a plurality of air worthiness inspections and/or maintenance checks with little to no human intervention. Once the UAV has been determined to be air worthy, it is approved for a subsequent mission.

An information processing apparatus of the disclosure of the present application includes a controller that is configured to acquire landing information about landing of a flying object on a landing platform that is provided on a housing facility for housing the flying object, the landing platform being where the flying object lands when the flying object is to be housed in the housing facility, the landing platform being movable between a stored state of being stored in an inner space separated by an outer wall of the housing facility and a protruding state of protruding from the outer wall of the housing facility, and issue a command for controlling the landing platform to be in the stored state, based on the landing information.

An aircraft launching system and method include a first lifting sub-system including a first tether that removably couples to an aircraft, and a second lifting sub-system including a second tether that couples the first lifting sub-system to the second lifting sub-system.

This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for lifting drones to a desired height before launching. In one exemplary embodiment, a drone elevator system includes a looped cable that is engaged to a pair of pulleys. A first pulley of the pair of pulleys is coupled to a lighter-than-air craft and the second pulley is attached to a motor. The lighter-than-air craft moves upwards so as to raise the first pulley skywards and place the looped cable at an angle with respect to the ground. The motor is then operated to rotate the second pulley for moving the looped cable. The cable includes a set of tethers each of which is used to tether a drone. Each tether includes an extension arm that prevents the tethered drone from making contact with the cable when being lifted. Each tethered drone can be launched after being lifted to a desired height.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for autonomously performing and/or facilitating drone diagnostic functions. Prior to a mission of a UAV, an inspection station comprising at least one imaging sensor and at least one directional force sensor may be used to perform a plurality of air worthiness inspections and/or maintenance checks with little to no human intervention. Once the UAV has been determined to be air worthy, it is approved for a subsequent mission.

A drone railway system comprises a rail comprising a contact surface and an interconnect member having a drone connecting end and a rail engaging end, wherein the rail engaging end comprises a contacting member. The rail engaging end is selectively engageable with the rail so the contacting member can contact the contact surface and selectively disengageable with the rail so the drone and interconnect member can fly away from the rail, whereby the drone and interconnect member are able to travel along the length of the rail when the rail engaging end is engaged with the rail. A method of flying a drone comprises engaging a rail with the drone by contacting a contact surface of the rail with a contacting member associated with the drone; traveling along a length of the rail with the contacting member contacting the contact surface of the rail; selectively disengaging the drone from the rail; and flying away from the rail.

Systems and methods for package pickup and delivery, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, include communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks. The systems and methods also include directing a UAV to deliver a package to a delivery location, wherein the package is classified for an urgent delivery. The systems and methods further include the air traffic control system directing the UAV to travel at a higher speed than other, non-urgent, UAV traffic controlled by the air traffic control system and to travel at a different altitude than the non-urgent UAV traffic.

A method configured for implementation by a passenger drone include communicating with an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system via a primary wireless network, the primary wireless network being associated with a first cell tower; receiving emergency instructions from the ATC system; storing the emergency instructions in memory, the emergency instructions configured to be implemented during an emergency situation; detecting when communication with the ATC system via the primary wireless network is disrupted; responsive to detecting when the communication with the ATC system via the primary wireless network is disrupted, implementing a network switchover procedure to attempt to reestablish communication to the ATC system via a backup wireless network; and, responsive to a failed attempt to reestablish communication to the ATC system via the backup wireless network, implementing the emergency instructions.

System and methods for managing one or more unmanned aerial vehicles. The system can include an unmanned aerial vehicle, a landing station for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and a loading station for receiving a package and unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle can be configured to: (i) determine a first confidence level for landing on the landing station, (ii) travel, based on the first confidence level, to the landing station, and (iii) determine a second confidence level for delivering the package to a delivery destination. The loading station can be configured to: (i) receive the second confidence level to deliver the package to the delivery destination from the unmanned aerial vehicle, and (ii) confirm, based on the second confidence level, the unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of delivering the package to the delivery destination.