Systems and methods for autonomously adjustable aerial vehicle antenna

An antenna assembly, comprising:

• an antenna with a variable length;
• an actuator in frictional driving contact with the antenna;
• a processor coupled to the actuator;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a method for autonomously adjusting the variable length of the antenna, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to:
• obtain first information comprising at least one of a value for a variable altitude of the antenna assembly, a value for a variable height of the antenna assembly above ground, and a value for a variable height of the antenna assembly above sea level;
• use the first information to obtain a desired length of an antenna of the antenna assembly;
• and
• control the actuator to move while in frictional driving contact with the antenna;
• wherein friction between a surface of the actuator and a surface of the antenna causes the antenna to travel in a direction so as to adjust the variable length of the antenna until the variable length reaches the desired length.

An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• avionic electronics disposed in the fuselage;
• a payload physical joined with the fuselage and comprising
• a communication relay configured to perform relay operations to extend a range between users of a communication relay link for voice and data communications, and
• an antenna assembly coupled to the communication relay and comprising
• an antenna with a variable length,
• an actuator in frictional driving content with the antenna,
• a processor coupled to the actuator, and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a method for autonomously adjusting the variable length of the antenna, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to:
• obtain first information comprising at least one of a value for a variable altitude of the antenna assembly, a value for a variable height of the antenna assembly above ground, and a value for a variable height of the antenna assembly above sea level;
• use the first information to obtain a desired length of an antenna of the antenna assembly;
• and
• control the actuator to move while in frictional driving contact with the antenna;
• wherein friction between a surface of the actuator and a surface of the antenna causes the antenna to travel in a direction so as to adjust the variable length of the antenna until the variable length reaches the desired length;
• at least one power source configured to supply power to the avionic electronics and payload.