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

Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control method is implemented in a UAV during a flight, for concurrently utilizing a plurality wireless networks for air traffic control. The UAV air traffic control method includes maintaining communication with a first wireless network and a second wireless network of the plurality of wireless networks; communicating first data with the first wireless network and second data with the second wireless network throughout the flight, wherein one or more of the first data and the second data is provided to an air traffic control system configured to maintain status of a plurality of UAVs in flight and perform control thereof; adjusting the flight based on one or more of the first data and the second data and control from the air traffic control system.

Abstract: A method of verifying battery and/or equipment connections in a telecommunications site includes performing maintenance or installation of one or more components in a shelter associated with the telecommunication site; subsequent to the maintenance or installation, adding a torque mark to each connection associated with the one or more components; verifying the torque mark for each connection as part of a close-out audit; and verifying the torque mark at a subsequent time after the close-out audit to verify each connection is properly torqued.

Abstract: Systems and method for cell site inspection by a cell site operator using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a processing device include creating an initial computer model of a cell site and surrounding geography at a first point in time, wherein the initial computer model represents a known good state of the cell site and the surrounding geography; providing the initial computer model to one or more of the UAV and the processing device; capturing current data of the cell site and the surrounding geography at a second point in time using the UAV; comparing the current data to the initial computer model by the processing device; and identifying variances between the current data and the initial computer model, wherein the variances comprise differences at the cell site and the surrounding geography between the first point in time and the second point in time.

Abstract: A method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure.

Abstract: Systems and method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site and associated fiber connectivity for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering include determining fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining first data capture of the fiber connectivity at or near the cell site; obtaining second data capture of paths of the fiber connectivity from the cell site; obtaining third data capture of the cell site including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; utilizing the first data capture, the second data capture, and the third data capture to develop the 3D model; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

Abstract: Systems and method for creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site for one or more of a cell site audit, a site survey, and cell site planning and engineering include obtaining first data capture for above ground components including a cell tower, associated cell site components on the cell tower, one or more buildings, and surrounding geography around the cell site; obtaining second data capture for subterranean geography associated with the surrounding geography; utilizing the first data capture and the second data capture to develop the 3D model which includes both the above ground components and the subterranean geography; and utilizing the 3D model to perform the one or more of the site audit, the site survey, and the cell site planning and engineering.

Abstract: Systems and method for performing a cell site audit or survey remotely via a User Interface (UI) include, subsequent to capturing a plurality of photos of a cell site and linking the plurality of photos to one another based on their adjacency at the cell site, displaying the UI to a user remote from the cell site, wherein the plurality of photos cover a cell tower with associated cell site components and an interior of a building at the cell site; receiving navigation commands from the user performing the cell site audit or survey; and updating the displaying based on the navigation commands, wherein the navigation commands include one or more of movement at the cell site and zoom of a current view.

Abstract: A virtual site survey method at a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof.

Abstract: A method with a tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site while the UAV is tethered at or near the cell site via a connection, wherein flight of the UAV at or near the cell site is constrained based on the connection; and performing one or more functions via the UAV at the cell site while the UAV is flying tethered at or near the cell site. The one or more functions can include functions related to a cell site audit. Alternatively, the one or more functions include functions related to providing wireless service via the UAV at the cell site, wherein data and/or power is transferred between the UAV and the cell site to perform the wireless service.

Abstract: A method for modeling a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site has the same launch location and launch orientation; obtaining a plurality of photographs of the cell site during about the flight plane, wherein each of the plurality of photographs is associated with one or more location identifiers; and, subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on the associated with one or more location identifiers and one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs.

Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based installation method for equipment on cell towers includes flying the UAV with the equipment attached thereto upwards to a desired location on the cell tower, wherein the desired location comprises one or more horizontal support structures; positioning the equipment to the desired location on the cell tower; connecting the equipment to the desired location; and disconnecting the equipment from the UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain data capture at a cell site for developing a three dimensional (3D) thereof include causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site; obtaining data capture during the flight path about the cell tower, wherein the data capture includes a plurality of photos or video subject to a plurality of constraints, wherein the plurality of photos are obtained by a plurality of cameras which are coordinated with one another; and subsequent to the obtaining, processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the data capture.

Abstract: A dual retention apparatus comprises: a locking pin; a pin retaining device, the pin slidable therein, comprising: a starting pin position; a pin locking mechanism; a partial pin locking mechanism; a pin path from the starting pin position to the pin locking mechanism, the partial pin locking mechanism located on the pin path and configured to prevent the pin from sliding back towards the starting pin position and allowing the pin to slide towards the pin locking mechanism, the pin locking mechanism configured to lock the pin therein; and a pin return path from the pin locking mechanism to the starting position, the pin return path bypassing the partial pin locking mechanism; and, a biasing device configured to relatively bias the pin along at least a portion of the pin path towards the pin locking mechanism, and further bias the pin into the pin locking mechanism.

Abstract: A method performed at a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communicatively coupled to a controller to perform a cell site audit, without requiring a tower climb at the cell site, includes causing the UAV to fly substantially vertically up to cell site components using the controller, wherein flight of the UAV is constrained in a three-dimensional rectangle at the cell site; collecting data associated with the cell site components and the surrounding airspace and environment using the UAV; transmitting and/or storing the collected data; and processing the collected data to obtain information for the cell site audit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing a three-dimensional (3D) model of a cell site using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to obtain photos and/or video include preparing the UAV for flight and programming an autonomous flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the autonomous flight path comprises a substantially circular flight path about the cell tower with one or more cameras on the UAV facing the cell tower; flying the UAV around the cell tower in a plurality of orbits comprising at least four orbits each with a different set of characteristics of altitude, radius, and camera angle, wherein the flying comprises of at least four orbits for a monopole cell tower and at least five orbits for a self-support/guyed cell tower; obtaining photos and/or video of the cell tower, the cell site, and cell site components during each of the plurality of orbits; and using the photos and/or video to develop the point cloud three-dimensional (3D) model of the cell site.

Abstract: Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to perform physical functions on a cell tower at a cell site include flying the UAV at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV comprises one or more manipulable members; moving the one or more manipulable members when proximate to a location at the cell tower where the physical functions are performed to effectuate the physical functions; and utilizing one or more counterbalancing techniques during the moving ensuring a weight distribution of the UAV remains substantially the same.

Abstract: A method for transporting maintenance personnel at a cell tower includes, responsive to a requirement for a tower climb for one or more of a site survey, a site audit, maintenance, and installation at the cell tower, securing a person in a drone, wherein the drone includes flight components at a substantial length from the person allowing the flight components to fly over a top of the cell tower and to place the person directly adjacent to a desired location on the cell tower; flying the drone up the cell tower to locate the person directly adjacent to the desired location; and performing the one or more of a site survey, a site audit, maintenance, and installation at the cell tower.

Abstract: A modeling method performed for a cell site to detect changes in or at the cell site includes obtaining first data regarding the cell site from a first audit performed using one or more data acquisition techniques and obtaining second data regarding the cell site from a second audit performed using the one or more data acquisition techniques, wherein the second audit is performed at a different time than the first audit; processing the first data to define a first model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers and processing the second data to define a second model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers; comparing the first model with the second model to identify the changes in or at the cell site; and performing one or more actions based on the identified changes.