Elevated station for unmanned aerial vehicles

An elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station, comprising:

• an elevated structure configured to allow takeoff of a UAV from the elevated structure, the elevated structure co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building and comprising:
• at least one support that extends between a ground adjacent to the building and the elevated structure;
• a conveyance device configured to raise a payload to the elevated structure;
• and
• wherein the building is adapted to store the payload at a storage elevation below an elevation of the elevated structure
• wherein the elevation of the elevated structure defines an above-grade clearance of at least 14 feet.

A system comprising:

• a building adapted to store a plurality of payloads at a first elevation;
• a conveyance device configured to raise a payload from an internal loading station within the building to an elevated structure;
• and
• an elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station at a second elevation above the first elevation and co-located with the building, wherein:
• the elevated UAV station is anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building and adapted to receive a payload of the plurality of payloads from within the building and transport the payload to an offsite location using a UAV, and
• the elevated structure is exterior to the building and fixed to a ground location adjacent the building.

A method comprising:

• conveying a payload to an elevated structure co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building, wherein the elevated structure is exterior to the building and fixed to a ground location adjacent the building;
• receiving a payload from the building by a conveyance device configured to raise the payload from an internal loading station within the building to the elevated structure;
• assembling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the elevated structure, including loading the payload;
• launching the UAV to an offsite location, the UAV carrying the payload;
• and
• recovering the UAV at the elevated structure.

An elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station, comprising:

• an elevated structure for receiving and docking a UAV, wherein the elevated structure is co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building and the elevated structure is exterior to the building and fixed to a ground location adjacent the building;
• and
• a conveyance device configured to raise a payload from an internal loading station within the building to the elevated structure;
• wherein the elevated structure is configured to allow takeoff of a UAV therefrom.

An elevated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) station, comprising:

• an elevated structure for receiving and docking a UAV, wherein the elevated structure is co-located with a building and anchored to an exterior sidewall of the building;
• and
• a conveyance device configured to raise a payload from an internal loading station within the building to the elevated structure and comprising:
• a tubular structure extending from the internal loading station to the elevated structure, wherein the payload is transported through the tubular structure from the internal loading station to the elevated structure;
• wherein the elevated structure is configured to allow takeoff of a UAV therefrom.