Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for secure, authenticated communication with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are described herein. The system includes at least one computing system which is operable with instructions to: receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle of one or more unmanned vehicles, a message; extract, from the message, an unmanned aerial vehicle serial number and a secret key; compute a hash of the secret key to generate a first hashed secret key; retrieve, from an internal database located on a non-transient memory of the at least one computing system, a second hashed secret key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle serial number; and compare the first hashed secret key with the second hashed secret key to determine whether the message is valid.

Abstract: An emergency or medical package comprising has: a body; attachment fittings, for attachment to complementary fittings of a UAV; and a plurality of compartments for housing medical or emergency supplies, including a compartment for a headset, providing two-way communication between a user of a headset and a person remote from the package, wherein the headset includes at least one camera, providing a video feed, that is sent to a remote person. A method of delivering these supplies and providing control over the use of the supplies provides two-way audio and visual communication between a remote person and the user wearing the headset, whereby the remote person can provide instructions and directions to the user. A method of planning a route for the delivery of a medical or emergency package by UAV, and a method for providing for a delivery of a priority package are also provided.

Abstract: A UAV location management method for use with a flight management system is provided, where the method comprises providing a location for at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for at least one of: landing, taking-off and loading, providing at least a first weight-sensitive UAV pad at the UAV location, assigning a gross weight limit to each UAV scheduled to take-off from the first weight-sensitive UAV pad, the gross weight limit being based on a safety factor and at least one of: (i) a characteristic of the UAV; (ii) a characteristic of a power source of the UAV; (iii) a scheduled flight path for the UAV; and (iv) a weather condition, monitoring a weight exerted on the first weight-sensitive UAV pad when the UAV is positioned on the UAV pad, and transmitting a halt-flight signal to the flight management system for the UAV where the weight exceeds the gross weight limit.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for secure, authenticated communication with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are described herein. The system includes at least one computing system which is operable with instructions to: receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle of one or more unmanned vehicles, a message; extract, from the message, an unmanned aerial vehicle serial number and a secret key; compute a hash of the secret key to generate a first hashed secret key; retrieve, from an internal database located on a non-transient memory of the at least one computing system, a second hashed secret key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle serial number; and compare the first hashed secret key with the second hashed secret key to determine whether the message is valid.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system operates with a flight management system and has controlled access UAV zones, each being UAV landing, loading, takeoff. A control and communication unit controls access to each UAV zone. A barrier around each zone controls entry into that zone. An opening in the barrier permits personnel to enter. A closure for the opening is locked by at least one remotely operable lock. A communications module is operable to control the lock for that zone to govern access to and entry into that zone by users. A flight management system is separate from the plurality of zones and in communication with the control and communication unit and with each communications module, and responsive to requests by users to allow access. At least some of the UAV zones are charging zones that include at least one charging cable for charging a battery of a UAV.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has: a body for carrying an article; at least one rotor; and a light source for generating a light beam to indicate the landing zone for the UAV. The UAV, in use, is flown to a desired location, that might be a site of an emergency with no defined landing zone. The UAV descends, and, while descending the light source is operated to illuminate and to define a landing zone. The UAV can be provided with lights and an audio source to warn and advise bystanders that the UAV is landing and to stand clear of the landing zone.

Abstract: An emergency or medical package comprising has: a body; attachment fittings, for attachment to complementary fittings of a UAV; and a plurality of compartments for housing medical or emergency supplies, including a compartment for a headset, providing two-way communication between a user of a headset and a person remote from the package, wherein the headset includes at least one camera, providing a video feed, that is sent to a remote person. A method of delivering these supplies and providing control over the use of the supplies provides two-way audio and visual communication between a remote person and the user wearing the headset, whereby the remote person can provide instructions and directions to the user. A method of planning a route for the delivery of a medical or emergency package by UAV, and a method for providing for a delivery of a priority package are also provided.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a portable emergency or medical package has: a main body; and a plurality of modules with fasteners that enable the main body and the modules to be fastened together in different combinations, to form the package. A plurality of compartments for housing medical supplies, and a compartment for communication device, providing real time two-way communication between a user of the package and a communication appliance remote from the package are provided. The communication device is detachable from the remainder of the package.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has: a body for carrying an article; at least one rotor; and a light source for generating a light beam to indicate the landing zone for the UAV. The UAV, in use, is flown to a desired location, that might be a site of an emergency with no defined landing zone. The UAV descends, and, while descending the light source is operated to illuminate and to define a landing zone. The UAV can be provided with lights and an audio source to warn and advise bystanders that the UAV is landing and to stand clear of the landing zone.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, location and method, for operation with a flight management system, has a controlled access UAV zone for at least one of: UAV landing, UAV loading, and UAV take-off. A sensor can be in communication with a control panel and/or a lock to govern access to the UAV zone. The zone can have a barrier with closure secured by the lock, and controlled by a flight management system. Separate access codes can be provided for departure and destination locations, to enable personnel associated with a delivery request to access those locations, to effect delivery of an article. The codes can be generated and supplied when the flight management system receives a valid delivery request.

Abstract: A portable emergency or medical package has: a body; a plurality of compartments for housing medical supplies, and a compartment for communication device, providing real time two-way communication between a user of the package and a communication appliance remote from the package, wherein the communication device is detachable from the remainder of the package. A method of delivering a package of emergency or medical supplies to a desired location provides control over the use of the medical supplies by a remote person. At the desired location, a user is instructed to remove the communication device from the package, which enables the provision of real time two-way audio communication between a remote person and the user and at least one way video communication to the remote person, whereby the remote person can provide instructions and directions to the user.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, location and method, for operation with a flight management system, has a controlled access UAV zone for at least one of: UAV landing, UAV loading, and UAV take-off. A sensor can be in communication with a control panel and/or a lock to govern access to the UAV zone. The zone can have a barrier with closure secured by the lock, and controlled by a flight management system. Separate access codes can be provided for departure and destination locations, to enable personnel associated with a delivery request to access those locations, to effect delivery of an article. The codes can be generated and supplied when the flight management system receives a valid delivery request.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery system, for delivering articles between UAV zones has a computing system having a non-transient memory with executable instructions, the executable instructions including a flight management system to receive at a portal a delivery request to deliver an article from one zone to another. The Instructions are operable: to assign a UAV to the delivery request; if a UAV is not at a first zone, to dispatch a UAV to the first zone; to provide a flight path to the UAV,I at least part of the flight path being predetermined; to communicate the UAV flight path to the UAV; and to monitor the flight of the UAV from the first zone to the second zone and the delivery of the article. A method of planning a route for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is also provided.