Improved systems, apparatus, and methods for enhanced positioning of an airborne relocatable communication hub supporting wireless devices are described. Such a method begins with moving an aerial communication drone operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub to a first deployed airborne position, detecting a first signal broadcast by a first wireless device using a communication hub interface on the drone, and detecting a second signal broadcast by a second wireless device using the communication hub interface. The method has the drone comparing a first connection signal strength for the first signal and a second connection signal strength for the second signal, and repositioning the aerial communication drone to a second deployed airborne position based upon the comparison. Once repositioned at the second deployed airborne position, the method has the drone linking the first and second wireless devices using the communication hub interface on the aerial communication drone.

A response drone for detecting incidents within a coverage area including multiple zones is provided. With customer permission or affirmative consent, the drone may be programmed to (1) detect (or receive an indication of) triggering activity associated with one of the zones; (2) determine or receive a navigation path to that zone; (3) travel to that zone based upon the determined navigation path; (4) collect sensor data using drone-mounted sensors; and (5) transmit the collected sensor data to a user computing device associated with the coverage area for review. The response drone may be an autonomous drone in wireless communication with a smart home controller that detects triggering activity associated with an insurance-related event (e.g., fire). The autonomous drone may automatically deploy to mitigate damage to insured assets (e.g., a home or personal belongings). The autonomous drone data may be used for subsequent insurance claim handling and/or damage estimation.

A drone-based monitored storage system includes a shipment storage with an interior storage area and a drone storage area, an internal docking station, and an internal monitor drone disposed within the shipment storage that aerially monitors the items being shipped within the interior storage area. The monitor drone includes an airframe, battery, onboard controller, lifting engines and lifting rotors responsive to flight control input, communication interface, sensor array that gathers sensory information as the drone moves within the interior shipment storage area of the shipment storage, and a drone capture interface that can selectively mate to the internal docking station to hold the monitor drone in a secure position. The monitor drone can gather the sensory information (such as environment information, image information, multidimensional mapping information, and scanned symbol information) and autonomously detect conditions of items being shipped based upon the sensory information from the sensor array.

Drone-based systems and methods for conducting a modified inspection of a delivery vehicle are described. A system has a delivery vehicle transceiver and an inspection drone paired to the vehicle that aerially inspects the vehicle. The delivery vehicle transceiver has a user interface and a wireless radio, while the paired inspection drone has a housing, onboard controller, memory storage, lifting engines, and a communication interface. The drone's onboard controller is operative to identify different existing delivery vehicle inspection points from an inspection profile record; receive an inspection update message from the communication interface; update the existing delivery vehicle inspection points with additional inspection points to yield a targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle; and conduct the modified inspection of the delivery vehicle by gathering the detected sensor-based inspection information related to each of the targeted inspection points.

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 link the drone to the controller, build a virtual navigation map of the coverage area based, at least in part, upon initial sensor data stored by the drone, determine that the coverage area is unoccupied, deploy the drone from a docking station, control movement of the drone within the coverage area based upon the virtual navigation map, collect drone sensor data of the coverage area using the drone sensor, and/or analyze the collected drone sensor data to identify an abnormal condition within the coverage area, the abnormal condition including at least one of damage or theft occurring within the coverage area.

Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes receiving, by the UAV, flight information describing a job to perform an inspection of a rooftop. A particular altitude is ascended to, and an inspection of the rooftop is performed including obtaining sensor information describing the rooftop. Location information identifying a damaged area of the rooftop is received. The damaged area of the rooftop is traveled to. An inspection of the damaged area of the rooftop is performed including obtaining detailed sensor information describing the damaged area. A safe landing location is traveled to.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes obtaining, from a user device, flight operation information describing an inspection of a vertical structure to be performed, the flight operation information including locations of one or more safe locations for vertical inspection. A location of the UAV is determined to correspond to a first safe location for vertical inspection. A first inspection of the structure is performed is performed at the first safe location, the first inspection including activating cameras. A second safe location is traveled to, and a second inspection of the structure is performed. Information associated with the inspection is provided to the user device.

Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

Systems and methods are provided for augmented reality during an automated site survey of a building using an unmanned aerial vehicle so that results of the site survey are substantially consistent, irrespective of whether the site survey is conducted when the building is bare or after systems and devices in the building are installed. Some methods can include retrieving a building information model of the building from a database device, receiving user input and, responsive thereto, transmitting navigation signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle to maneuver to a site survey position in the building and transmitting command signals to the unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct a RF test at the site survey position and return site survey results, and calculating signal degradation for the site survey position as a function of the site survey results and the building information model.