Aerial drone operations support base

Abstract

Exemplary drone operations support base embodiments disclosed herein may be used to shelter, repower, and/or service drones associated therewith. A drone operations support base may include an enclosure with an entryway that permits drone ingress and egress with respect to the enclosure. Drone launching/landing, drone storage and drone power source repowering areas may be associated with a given drone base. A transfer device may be provided to move drones between the various drone base areas. The transfer device may also be adapted to transfer drone power sources between the drone repowering area and drones located elsewhere within the drone base for repowering of the power sources and of the drones.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drone operations support base for supporting multiple drones, comprising:
 a drone support platform;   a designated drone launching and landing area on the platform;   a designated drone storage area on the platform, the drone storage area being divisible into multiple drone storage spaces;   a mechanical transfer device having access to the drone launching and landing area and the drone storage area, the mechanical transfer device adapted for moving drones between said areas;   a computerized base control system for controlling base operations;   a flight control subsystem in communication with the base control system, the flight control subsystem adapted to manage drone takeoffs and landings; and   a logistics subsystem in communication with the base control system, the logistics subsystem adapted to maintain drone inventory, and to manage drone storage.