Abstract: Systems and methods for drone air traffic control include, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a plurality of geographic regions, wherein the air traffic control system has one or more servers configured to manage each geographic region predetermined based on a geographic boundary, communicating to one or more UAVs via one or more wireless networks, wherein the one or more UAVs are configured to maintain their flight in the plurality of geographic regions based on coverage of or connectivity to the one or more wireless networks; obtaining data related to the one or more UAVs, wherein the data includes flight operational data, flight plan data, and sensor data related to obstructions and other UAVs; analyzing and storing the data for each geographic region; and managing flight of the one or more UAVs in corresponding geographic regions based on the data.

Abstract: A method for loading an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with one or more items is disclosed. The method includes positioning one or more items in specific positions within one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and a container configured to be carried by the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based on a Center of Gravity of each of the one or more items. The method also includes securing the one or more items in the specific positions within the one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the container to prevent the one or more items from shifting and changing a combined Center of Gravity of the one or more items combined with the one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the container during a flight of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Abstract: A method for loading one of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a container for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with one or more items is disclosed. The method includes determining a Center of Gravity (COG) of the one or more items. The method also includes loading the one of the UAV and the container for the UAV with the one or more items based on the COG of the one or more items. The method further includes positioning one or more weights relative to the one or more items and relative to the one of the UAV and the container for the UAV such that a combined COG of the one or more items, the one of the UAV and the container for the UAV, and the one or more weights is positioned within a predetermined region relative to the one of the UAV and the container for the UAV.

Abstract: Air traffic control systems and methods include communicating with passenger drones via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the passenger drones each include hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the one or more cell towers, and wherein each passenger drone has a unique identifier in the air traffic control system; obtaining data associated with flight of each of the passenger drones based on the communicating; and managing the flight of each of the passenger drones based on the obtained data and performance of one or more functions associated with air traffic control, wherein each passenger drone is configured to constrain flight based on coverage of the one or more cell towers such that each passenger drone maintains communication on the one or more wireless networks.

Abstract: Flying lane management systems and methods implemented in an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more passenger drones via one or more wireless networks include initiating communication to the one or more passenger drones at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of passenger drones each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers; determining a flying lane for the one or more passenger drones based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region; and providing the flying lane to the one or more passenger drones are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane.

Abstract: Obstruction detection and management systems and methods include, in an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system including one or more servers communicatively coupled to a plurality of passenger drones via one or more wireless networks, receiving passenger drone data from a plurality of passenger drones, wherein the passenger drone data comprises operational data for the plurality of passenger drones and obstruction data from one or more passenger drones; updating an obstruction database based on the obstruction data, wherein the obstruction database comprises entries of obstructions with their height, size, location, and a permanency flag comprising either a temporary obstruction or a permanent obstruction; monitoring a flight plan for the plurality of passenger drones based on the operational data; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of passenger drones based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.

Abstract: Static obstruction detection and management systems and methods include, in an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for any flying vehicles including any of passenger drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), receiving monitored data from a plurality flying vehicles related to static obstructions; receiving external data from one or more external sources related to the static obstructions; analyzing the monitored data and the external data to populate and manage an obstruction database of the static obstructions; and transmitting obstruction instructions to the plurality of flying vehicles based on analyzing the obstruction database with their flight plan.

Abstract: A method for loading an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with multiple items is disclosed. The method includes determining a weight, size, and Center of Gravity of each of the multiple items. The method also includes positioning the multiple items relative to one another such that a combined Center of Gravity of the multiple items will be positioned within a predetermined region. The method further includes loading the multiple items onto the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with the combined Center of Gravity of the multiple items positioned within the predetermined region.

Abstract: An air traffic control system includes one or more servers each including a network interface, a processor, and memory; and a database communicatively coupled to the one or more servers, wherein the network interface in each of the one or more servers is communicatively coupled to one or more passenger drones via a plurality of wireless networks at least one of which comprises a cellular network; wherein the one or more servers are configured to obtain operational data from a passenger drone, obtain conditions from one or more of the operational data and the database, determine a future flight plan based on the operational data and a flying lane assignment for the passenger drone, determine potential collisions in the future flight plan based on static obstructions and dynamic obstructions, obtained from the database based on the future flight plan, and provide evasive maneuver instructions to the passenger drone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for emergency shutdown and landing by an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for passenger drones include detecting a passenger drone is one of distressed and rogue; determining timing for a shutdown and a location for landing; and communicating the determined timing and the landing location to the passenger drone by the Air Traffic Control system via one or more wireless networks comprising at least one cellular network, wherein the passenger drone is constrained in flight based on cell coverage over the at least one cellular network.

Abstract: A method configured for implementation by a passenger drone include communicating with an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system via a primary wireless network, the primary wireless network being associated with a first cell tower; receiving emergency instructions from the ATC system; storing the emergency instructions in memory, the emergency instructions configured to be implemented during an emergency situation; detecting when communication with the ATC system via the primary wireless network is disrupted; responsive to detecting when the communication with the ATC system via the primary wireless network is disrupted, implementing a network switchover procedure to attempt to reestablish communication to the ATC system via a backup wireless network; and, responsive to a failed attempt to reestablish communication to the ATC system via the backup wireless network, implementing the emergency instructions.

Abstract: Passenger drone air traffic control and monitoring systems and methods implemented by a consolidated system include communicating with an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system which is executed on a plurality of servers, wherein the ATC system is configured to communicate with a plurality of passenger drones in a geographic or zone coverage; consolidating data from the plurality of servers to provide a visualization of a larger geography comprising a plurality of geographic or zone coverages; providing the visualization via a Graphical User Interface (GUI); and performing one or more functions via the GUI for air traffic control and monitoring at any of a high-level and an individual passenger drone level.

Abstract: Drone systems and method include, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; responsive to a delivery request specifying a delivery location, determining whether the delivery location and a second pickup location for a second package are the same; and directing a UAV of a plurality of UAVs to deliver the first package to the delivery location, and pick up the second package at the pickup location, wherein the air traffic control system provides a flight plan to the UAV based on the delivery and pickup requests.

Abstract: Drone systems and methods for pickup and delivery of multiple packages include communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; receiving multiple delivery requests, each delivery request specifying any of a pickup location, one or more packages, and a delivery location for each package; determining whether multiple packages including a first package for delivery at a first delivery location and a second package for delivery at a second delivery location are deliverable in a single flight of a UAV; selecting a UAV of the one or more UAVs for delivering the multiple packages; and directing the UAV to pick up the multiple packages, and deliver the first package at the first delivery location and the second package at the second delivery location, wherein the air traffic control system provides a flight plan to the UAV based on the first and second delivery locations.

Abstract: Drone systems and methods for delayed package delivery includes, in an air traffic control system configured to manage UAV flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV, in transit, to deliver a package to a delivery location and following a flight plan provided to the UAV by the air traffic control system or a drone operator, to hold a position; and directing the UAV to deliver the package after holding the position.

Abstract: Drone systems and method include, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; selecting a delivery technique for a UAV to drop a package at a delivery location, the delivery technique being selected from a plurality of techniques including a technique of the UAV maneuvering to swing the package; and directing the UAV to deliver the package and communicating delivery instructions to the UAV, the delivery instructions including the delivery technique selected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for package pickup and delivery include, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks, wherein the one or more UAVs are configured to constrain flight based on coverage of the one or more wireless networks; receiving a delivery request from a company specifying a pickup location, a package, and a delivery location; selecting a UAV of the one or more UAVs for the delivery requests; and directing the UAV to pick up the package at the pickup location and to deliver the package to the delivery location, wherein the air traffic control system provides a flight plan to the UAV based on the delivery request.

Abstract: Drone systems and methods for package pickup and delivery include, in an air traffic control system configured to manage UAV flight in a geographic region, communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV to pick up the package at the pickup location and to deliver the package to a delivery location; and directing the UAV, in transit, to travel along at least one of a road, highway, and street for a predetermined distance and at a predetermined altitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods for package pickup and delivery, in an air traffic control system configured to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight in a geographic region, include communicating to one or more UAVs over one or more wireless networks; directing a UAV to pick up a package at a pickup location and to deliver the package to a delivery location, wherein; and directing the UAV to follow an outbound flight path including a plurality of locations to travel to, in a specific order, while outbound to deliver the package, and an inbound flight path including the plurality of locations to travel to, in an order reverse of the specific order, while inbound from delivering the package.

Abstract: A passenger drone includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the flight components, cameras, radar, and wireless interfaces; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to receive notifications from an air traffic control system via the one or more wireless interfaces, the notifications related to previously detected obstructions in a flight path associated with a flight plan of the passenger drone, wherein the previously detected obstructions include objects at or near ground level; monitor proximate airspace with at least one of the one or more cameras and radar; detect an obstruction based on monitoring the proximate airspace, wherein the detected obstruction includes one or more objects at or near ground level in the flight path; alter the flight plan, to be carried out by the flight components, if required, based on the detected obstruction.