Methods and systems for multiple drone delivery system with in-flight handoff

A system for managing drones, comprising:

• at least one processor that
• controls the first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location;
• controls a second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location;
• while the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, enables the payload to be detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone;
• wherein the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone do not make physical contact prior to transferring the payload;
• and
• after the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, controls the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.

A computer program product for managing drones by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• an executable portion that controls the first aerial drone having a payload coupled thereto such that the first aerial drone travels from a first location to a second location;
• an executable portion that controls a second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels to the second location;
• an executable portion that, while the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone are in flight at the second location, enables the payload to be detached from the first aerial drone and coupled to the second aerial drone;
• wherein the first aerial drone and the second aerial drone do not make physical contact prior to transferring the payload;
• and
• an executable portion that, after the payload is detached from the first aerial drone and while the payload is coupled to the second aerial drone, controls the second aerial drone such that the second aerial drone travels from the second location to a third location.