An example UAV landing structure includes a landing platform for a UAV, a cavity within the landing platform, and a track that runs along the landing platform and at least a part of the cavity. The UAV may include a winch system that includes a tether that may be coupled to a payload. Furthermore, the cavity may be aligned over a predetermined target location. The cavity may be sized to allow the winch system to pass a tethered payload through the cavity. The track may guide the UAV to a docked position over the cavity as the UAV moves along the landing platform. When the UAV is in the docked position, a payload may be loaded to or unloaded from the UAV through the cavity.

A cleaning method includes controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fly to a region of a wall body according to a path to be cleaned, determining a distance between the UAV and a wall surface of the region of the wall body based on a cleaning mode, and controlling the UAV to clean the wall surface via the cleaning mode and at the determined distance away from the wall surface.

A method of preconditioning a battery for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle unmanned aerial vehicle may include fluidly coupling a fluid channel of a thermal management apparatus to an opening in fluid communication with the battery, determining a predicted temperature change of the battery as a result of the unmanned aerial vehicle traversing a predetermined flight path, determining a target initial temperature for the battery, wherein the target initial temperature is based at least in part on the predicted temperature change and is configured to operate the battery within a preferred temperature range during traversal of the predetermined flight path, selectively actuating a covering of the opening to allow air from the fluid channel of the thermal management apparatus to the battery, and at least one of heating or cooling the battery to the target initial temperature by directing air to the battery.

An access management system includes a mobile device with a processor and a memory and a software platform including at least a processor and a memory. The software platform is configured to analyze data obtained from the mobile device and other devices connected to the software platform. Specifically, the software platform is operable to determine if an access key received, read, or captured by a mobile device matches an access key for an authorized account, object, device, or space for the mobile device, and to provide access to the mobile device if the access key received, read, or captured by the mobile device matches the authorized access key.

A battery preconditioning system may include a battery for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a thermal analysis system configured to predict, for a predetermined flight path of an upcoming flight, a temperature change of the battery as a result of the UAV traversing the predetermined flight path, and determine a target initial temperature for the battery. The target initial temperature is based at least in part on the predicted temperature change and is configured to limit a duration that the battery operates outside an operating temperature window during traversal of the predetermined flight path. The battery preconditioning system may also include a thermal management system configured to receive the target initial temperature from the thermal analysis system and thermally condition the battery by performing at least one of heating or cooling the battery to the determined target initial temperature.

A robotic arm configured to load and unload one or more payloads from a drone, the robotic arm comprising: a central body portion; one or more arm sections configured to rotate with respect to the central body portion; one or more end effectors attached to respective end portions of the one or more arm sections; one or more unlocking mechanisms configured to unlock the one or more payloads from the drone; and at least one mechanism configured to remove the one or more payloads from the drone.

A robotic arm configured to load and unload one or more payloads from a drone, the robotic arm comprising: a central body portion; one or more arm sections configured to rotate with respect to the central body portion; one or more end effectors attached to respective end portions of the one or more arm sections; one or more unlocking mechanisms configured to unlock the one or more payloads from the drone; and at least one mechanism configured to remove the one or more payloads from the drone.

A conveyor arrangement for airborne battery replacement between an aerial supply vehicle having a store of replacement batteries suitable to power electric aerial vehicles and an electric aerial vehicle powered by a set of replaceable batteries is disclosed. The conveyor arrangement is configured to convey batteries between the aerial supply vehicle and the electric aerial vehicle during flight to replace a replaceable battery from the set of the electric aerial vehicle by a replacement battery from the store of the aerial supply vehicle.

A conveyor arrangement for airborne battery replacement between an aerial supply vehicle having a store of replacement batteries suitable to power electric aerial vehicles and an electric aerial vehicle powered by a set of replaceable batteries is disclosed. The conveyor arrangement is configured to convey batteries between the aerial supply vehicle and the electric aerial vehicle during flight to replace a replaceable battery from the set of the electric aerial vehicle by a replacement battery from the store of the aerial supply vehicle.

Landing apparatuses for unmanned aerial vehicles are provided herein. An example battery assembly can include a housing having a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the housing having a receiving interface that receives a first protruding adapter of an associated object. The top surface of the housing having a second protruding adapter that mates with the receiving interface of a second battery assembly, an energy storage unit disposed within the housing, a locking mechanism disposed within the housing, a biasing member that places the locking mechanism in a locked configuration, and a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor being configured to execute the instructions to cause the locking mechanism to move into an unlocked configuration.