Base stations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

A base station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the base station comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a slide mechanism connected to the enclosure and repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a cradle connected to the slide mechanism and defining a chamber configured to receive the UAV such that the UAV is movable into and out of the enclosure during repositioning of the slide mechanism between the retracted position and the extended position, the cradle including:
• an upper shell;
• a lower shell connected to the upper shell;
• and
• at least one thermal insulator located between the upper shell and the lower shell.

A base station for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the base station comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a slide mechanism connected to the enclosure and repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a charging hub connected to the slide mechanism and configured for electrical connection to a power source of the UAV;
• and
• a cradle connected to the slide mechanism and defining a chamber configured to receive the UAV such that the UAV is movable into and out of the enclosure during repositioning of the slide mechanism between the retracted position and the extended position, the cradle including:
• a housing;
• and
• at least one thermal insulator located within the housing and defining an airflow channel extending discontinuously about the chamber.