Abstract: Embodiments of a payload delivery and drop device for an unmanned aerial vehicle, and method of its use are described. An apparatus includes a moveable collar defining a lumen having a centerline, and a rigid bar that has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the rigid bar has a centerline and the second portion of the rigid bar has a centerline. The second portion of the rigid bar is disposed within the lumen of the collar when the rigid bar is in a first position. The centerline of the first portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen of the moveable collar when the rigid bar is in the first position. The centerline of the second portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen when the rigid bar is in the second position.

Abstract: Embodiments of a payload delivery and drop device for an unmanned aerial vehicle, and method of its use are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a moveable collar defining a lumen having a centerline, and a rigid bar that has a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion. The first portion of the rigid bar has a centerline and the second portion of the rigid bar has a centerline different from the centerline of the first portion. The second portion of the rigid bar is disposed within the lumen of the collar when the rigid bar is in a first position. The centerline of the first portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen of the moveable collar when the rigid bar is in the first position. The centerline of the second portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen when the rigid bar is in the second position.

Abstract: A method for coordinating multiplexed communications among multiple piloted assets enlisted to a common mission and multiple requestors includes defining a mission based on a mission request received from at least one requestor via a software application, receiving enrollment requests for multiple asset pilots, receiving indications of geolocations associated with the asset pilots, matching the geolocations to the mission, and sending invitations to mobile devices of the multiple asset pilots based on the matching. Upon receipt of indications of acceptance from the asset pilots, operating multiplexed communications among the asset pilots and the requestor. The multiplexing can include relaying a first mission-related data from mobile devices of the asset pilots to a mobile device of the requestor via a common communication channel, and relaying a second mission-related data from the mobile device of the requestor to the mobile devices of the asset pilot via the common communication channel.

Abstract: A method for coordinating multiplexed communication of data among multiple piloted assets and multiple requestors via a common software application includes receiving a mission request via the common software application, defining a common mission based on the mission request via the common software application, and coordinating the multiplexed communication using multiple communication channels. The coordinating includes exchanging data with multiple piloted aerial drone assets relaying a communication from one of the piloted assets to at least one other piloted asset, via the software application. When a new piloted asset joins the common mission, communication is facilitated via the software application between the further piloted asset and the multiple piloted assets. Upon detection that a piloted asset from the multiple piloted assets is no longer associated with the common mission, communication via the software application between that piloted asset and the remaining piloted assets is prevented.

Abstract: Unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) selection information identifying a UAV, flight path information, and a relative elevation difference value that is a difference between a first elevation value of a start location and a second elevation value of a drop location are received. Navigation of the UAV is initiated using the UAV selection information and the flight path information. A relative altitude difference value is obtained using a first altitude value of the UAV associated with the start location and a second altitude value of the UAV associated with the drop location. In response to a difference between the relative elevation difference value and the relative altitude difference value being outside a predefined threshold, UAV is caused to adjust the second altitude value such that an updated difference between the relative elevation difference value and an updated relative altitude difference value is within the predefined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of a payload delivery and drop device for an unmanned aerial vehicle, and method of its use are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a moveable collar defining a lumen having a centerline, and a rigid bar that has a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion. The first portion of the rigid bar has a centerline and the second portion of the rigid bar has a centerline different from the centerline of the first portion. The second portion of the rigid bar is disposed within the lumen of the collar when the rigid bar is in a first position. The centerline of the first portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen of the moveable collar when the rigid bar is in the first position. The centerline of the second portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen when the rigid bar is in the second position.

Abstract: A method for coordinating multiplexed communications among multiple piloted assets enlisted to a common mission and multiple requestors includes defining a mission based on a mission request received from at least one requestor via a software application, receiving enrollment requests for multiple asset pilots, receiving indications of geolocations associated with the asset pilots, matching the geolocations to the mission, and sending invitations to mobile devices of the multiple asset pilots based on the matching. Upon receipt of indications of acceptance from the asset pilots, operating multiplexed communications among the asset pilots and the requestor. The multiplexing can include relaying a first mission-related data from mobile devices of the asset pilots to a mobile device of the requestor via a common communication channel, and relaying a second mission-related data from the mobile device of the requestor to the mobile devices of the asset pilot via the common communication channel.

Abstract: Unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) selection information identifying a UAV, flight path information, and a relative elevation difference value that is a difference between a first elevation value of a start location and a second elevation value of a drop location are received. Navigation of the UAV is initiated using the UAV selection information and the flight path information. A relative altitude difference value is obtained using a first altitude value of the UAV associated with the start location and a second altitude value of the UAV associated with the drop location. In response to a difference between the relative elevation difference value and the relative altitude difference value being outside a predefined threshold, UAV is caused to adjust the second altitude value such that an updated difference between the relative elevation difference value and an updated relative altitude difference value is within the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes receiving, at a processor, from a transceiver and without human intervention, location data associated with a target. The processor receives, from the transceiver, product data for a resupply request referencing the target, the product data including at least one of a product type or a product quantity. The processor generates, without human intervention, unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) mission data based on the location data and the product data, the UAV mission data including a representation of at least one UAV and flight path data for the at least one UAV. The UAV mission data is caused to transmit to at least one UAV controller to cause the at least one UAV controller to initiate navigation of the at least one UAV according to the UAV mission data.

Abstract: Unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) selection information identifying a UAV, flight path information, and a relative elevation difference value that is a difference between a first elevation value of a start location and a second elevation value of a drop location are received. Navigation of the UAV is initiated using the UAV selection information and the flight path information. A relative altitude difference value is obtained using a first altitude value of the UAV associated with the start location and a second altitude value of the UAV associated with the drop location. In response to a difference between the relative elevation difference value and the relative altitude difference value being outside a predefined threshold, UAV is caused to adjust the second altitude value such that an updated difference between the relative elevation difference value and an updated relative altitude difference value is within the predefined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of a payload delivery and drop device for an unmanned aerial vehicle, and method of its use are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a moveable collar defining a lumen having a centerline, and a rigid bar that has a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion. The first portion of the rigid bar has a centerline and the second portion of the rigid bar has a centerline different from the centerline of the first portion. The second portion of the rigid bar is disposed within the lumen of the collar when the rigid bar is in a first position. The centerline of the first portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen of the moveable collar when the rigid bar is in the first position. The centerline of the second portion of the rigid bar is substantially non-parallel to the centerline of the lumen when the rigid bar is in the second position.

Abstract: A method for coordinating multiplexed communication of data among multiple piloted assets and multiple requestors via a common software application includes receiving a mission request via the common software application, defining a common mission based on the mission request via the common software application, and coordinating the multiplexed communication using multiple communication channels. The coordinating includes exchanging data with multiple piloted aerial drone assets relaying a communication from one of the piloted assets to at least one other piloted asset, via the software application. When a new piloted asset joins the common mission, communication is facilitated via the software application between the further piloted asset and the multiple piloted assets. Upon detection that a piloted asset from the multiple piloted assets is no longer associated with the common mission, communication via the software application between that piloted asset and the remaining piloted assets is prevented.

Abstract: A method for coordinating multiplexed communications among multiple piloted assets enlisted to a common mission and multiple requestors includes defining a mission based on a mission request received from at least one requestor via a software application, receiving enrollment requests for multiple asset pilots, receiving indications of geolocations associated with the asset pilots, matching the geolocations to the mission, and sending invitations to mobile devices of the multiple asset pilots based on the matching. Upon receipt of indications of acceptance from the asset pilots, operating multiplexed communications among the asset pilots and the requestor. The multiplexing can include relaying a first mission-related data from mobile devices of the asset pilots to a mobile device of the requestor via a common communication channel, and relaying a second mission-related data from the mobile device of the requestor to the mobile devices of the asset pilot via the common communication channel.