Systems and methods for providing UAV-based digital escort drones in visitor management and access control systems are provided. A visitor management and access control system can identify a need for escorting a visitor through the region and transmit a signal to a drone that identifies a starting location and a destination location in the region. Responsive to receiving the signal, the drone can escort the visitor along a path from the starting location to the destination location, and an access privilege device carried by the drone can open a secured door or access a secured area along the path.

The present disclosure is directed toward a system for autonomously landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) within an unmanned aerial vehicle ground station (UAVGS) and removing a battery assembly from within the UAV while landed. In particular, systems described herein enable a battery arm to engage a battery assembly and remove the battery assembly from within the UAV. Additionally, the battery arm can include one or more sensors that detect a pattern of sensor contacts arranged on an end of the battery assembly. In particular, the sensors on the battery arm can detect and identify the battery assembly based on the particular pattern of sensor contacts on the end of the battery assembly.

This disclosure is generally directed to an Unmanned Aerial Device (UAV) that uses a removable computing device for command and control. The UAV may include an airframe with rotors and an adjustable cradle to attach a computing device. The computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, MP3 player, or the like, may provide the necessary avionics and computing equipment to control the UAV autonomously. For example, the adjustable cradle may be extended to fit a tablet or other large computing device, or retracted to fit a smart phone or other small computing device. Thus, the adjustable cradle may provide for the attachment and use of a plurality of different computing devices in conjunction with a single airframe. Additionally the UAV may comprise adjustable arms to assist in balancing the load of the different computing devices and/or additional equipment attached to the airframe.

A landing platform for an unmanned aerial vehicle, including a plurality of substantially funnel-shaped centering housings configured to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of projections of the aerial vehicle for reaching a predetermined landing position. The platform can include a mechanism for recharging the battery of the aerial vehicle and/or with an arrangement for serial data transfer.

An aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing comprises a fuselage, at least one processor carried by the fuselage and a pair of aerodynamic, lift-generating wings extending from the fuselage. A plurality of vectoring rotors are rotatably carried by the fuselage so as to be rotatable between a substantially vertical configuration relative to the fuselage for vertical take-off and landing and a substantially horizontal configuration relative to the fuselage for horizontal flight. The vectoring rotors are unsupported by the first pair of wings. The wings may be modular and removably connected to the fuselage and configured to be interchangeable with an alternate pair of wings. A cargo container may be secured to the underside of the fuselage, and the cargo container may be modular and interchangeable with an alternate cargo container.

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, and, in response to detecting a cleaning prohibition identifier associated with the region, recognizing the region as a cleaning prohibition region and controlling the UAV to fly over the cleaning prohibition region without cleaning the cleaning prohibition region.

Various embodiments of a docking station configured for semi-autonomous or fully autonomous management of drones. In various embodiments, the station can identify the exact location and angle of a drone on a landing pad, and modify the location and angle in order for a robot to retrieve a used battery from the drone and also insert a fully charged replacement battery. The station may also determine the charge status of a drone's battery, the exact type of battery used by a particular drone, and select for replacement into the drone the specific battery needed. There are various embodiments of a system with such a docking station, command & control software, a database, and a network control center. Various embodiments are of methods to identify the need to replace a battery, identify the type of battery required, and effect replacement in an automated manner.

Various embodiments of a docking station configured for semi-autonomous or fully autonomous management of drones. In various embodiments, the station can identify the exact location and angle of a drone on a landing pad, and modify the location and angle in order for a robot to retrieve a used battery from the drone and also insert a fully charged replacement battery. The station may also determine the charge status of a drone's battery, the exact type of battery used by a particular drone, and select for replacement into the drone the specific battery needed. There are various embodiments of a system with such a docking station, command & control software, a database, and a network control center. Various embodiments are of methods to identify the need to replace a battery, identify the type of battery required, and effect replacement in an automated manner.

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.