Abstract: An aerial drone parcel delivery/transfer management system includes an aerial drone parcel delivery/transfer management server (ADPTMS) and a plurality of aerial drone landing pads (ADLPs). Each ADLP has a corresponding ADLP address with a unique ADLP identifier (e.g., a manufacturing serial number); most-recently known ADLP geolocation data (e.g., geospatial coordinates); and possibly most-recently known ADLP elevation data. The ADPTMS communicates with order management/fulfillment servers associated with online stores, which communicates with aerial drone parcel delivery/transfer services for dispatching aerial drones to particular ADLPs corresponding to particular ADLP addresses as part of online orders fulfillment. An ADLP presents a machine readable code such as a quick response (QR) code that is captured by an aerial drone and processed to verify the ADLP's identity. An ADLP can output local RF and/or optical guiding signals to aid aerial drone navigation to the ADLP.

Abstract: A container for aerial drone transport includes a main body; a lid; a plurality of aerial drone grip elements organized in an aerial drone grip configuration; a plurality of visual aerial drone orientation markers carried by at least one external surface at predetermined locations relative to the plurality of aerial drone grip elements, which define a pickup orientation; and a first machine-readable code indicating a container serial number, container dimensions, weight carrying capacity, and/or the aerial drone grip configuration. The container can also include a second machine-readable code indicating a target aerial drone delivery address. The container can include an RFID tag, and possibly a sensing unit configured for sensing one or more types of signals. The container can be securely closed by closure mechanisms, including an elastic band structure having knob elements that can be inserted into and securely retained by aperture structures having two different cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: A container for aerial drone transport includes a main body; a lid; a plurality of aerial drone grip elements organized in an aerial drone grip configuration; a plurality of visual aerial drone orientation markers carried by at least one external surface at predetermined locations relative to the plurality of aerial drone grip elements, which define a pickup orientation; and a first machine-readable code indicating a container serial number, container dimensions, weight carrying capacity, and/or the aerial drone grip configuration. The container can also include a second machine-readable code indicating a target aerial drone delivery address. The container can include an RFID tag, and possibly a sensing unit configured for sensing one or more types of signals. The container can be securely closed by closure mechanisms, including an elastic band structure having knob elements that can be inserted into and securely retained by aperture structures having two different cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: An aerial drone parcel delivery/transfer management server (ADPTMS) is configured for facilitating flexible management of aerial drone parcel deliveries to or transfers between aerial drone landing pads (ADLPs). Each ADLP has a corresponding ADLP address that includes a unique ADLP identifier (e.g., a manufacturing serial number); current or most-recently known ADLP geolocation data (e.g., 2D or 3D geospatial coordinates); and possibly current or most-recently known ADLP elevation data. The ADPTMS can communicate with order management/fulfillment servers associated with online stores, which can communicate with aerial drone parcel delivery/transfer services for dispatching aerial drones to particular ADLP addresses as part of fulfilling online orders. An ADLP can present a machine readable code such as a quick response (QR) code thereon (e.g., on a landing mat) that can be captured by an aerial drone and processed to verify the ADLP's identity.