CPC B64F 1/222 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64F 1/029 (2020.01); B64F 1/04 (2013.01); B64F 1/06 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); B64U 10/25 (2023.01); B64U 30/10 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/00 (2023.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01); B64U 80/00 (2023.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] | 26 Claims |
1. An elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station, comprising:
an elevated structure for receiving and docking a UAV, wherein the elevated structure is co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building and comprising:
at least one support that extends between a ground adjacent to the building and the elevated structure; and
a conveyance device configured to raise a payload from an internal loading station within the building to the elevated structure;
wherein the elevated structure is configured to allow takeoff of a UAV therefrom.
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20. A method comprising:
conveying a payload to an elevated structure co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building, wherein the elevated structure is exterior to the building and fixed to a ground location adjacent the building;
receiving a payload from the building by a conveyance device configured to raise the payload from an internal loading station within the building to the elevated structure;
assembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the elevated structure, including loading the payload;
launching the UAV to an offsite location, the UAV carrying the payload; and
recovering the UAV at the elevated structure.
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