Techniques for storing, transporting and operating a UAV

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) module, comprising:

• a UAV having foldable wings coupled to a body of the UAV;
• a UAV case having length and width dimensions that is constructed and arranged to operate in (i) a closed configuration that stores and protects the UAV while the UAV is transported within the UAV case between locations with the foldable wings in a folded configuration, and (ii) an opened configuration that provides a base from which the UAV launches vertically from within the UAV case while the foldable wings of the UAV remain in the folded configuration;
• and
• wherein the UAV is constructed and arranged to automatically unfold the foldable wings outwards from the body of the UAV to form a fixed wing having a length that extends beyond the length and width dimensions of the UAV case for fixed wing horizontal flight after the UAV is airborne;
• wherein the UAV case includes a main member and a set of doors that are moveably coupled to the main member;
• wherein the UAV case is further constructed and arranged such that each door in the set of doors is closed relative to the main member when the UAV case is in the closed configuration, and such that the main member and the set of doors define an enclosed cavity that houses the UAV with the foldable wings in the folded configuration;
• and
• wherein the UAV is further constructed and arranged to automatically transition from the closed configuration to the opened configuration at least in part by automatically opening the set of doors relative the main member to allow the UAV to exit the UAV case as it launches vertically from within the UAV case.