Drone based methods and systems for transfer of data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library system

A drone vehicle for transferring data storage components in a data storage system, the drone vehicle comprising:

• a flight assembly;
• a frame;
• at least one landing structure;
• a package holding and securing assembly configured to hold and release a data storage component;
• a power source;
• a processing device;
• and
• a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to:
• receive a command for transferring a data storage component from a source location to a destination location,
• by the package securing system, cause the drone vehicle to hold the data storage component, and
• by the flight assembly, cause the drone vehicle to move to the destination location,
• wherein the drone vehicle is configured to move and transfer data storage components to and from a data storage library in a data storage system.

A method for transferring data storage components within a data storage system, the method comprising:

• instructing a drone vehicle, by a processing device, to transfer a data storage component to a destination location;
• and
• by the drone vehicle, transferring the data storage component to the destination location,
• wherein the destination location comprises at least one of the group consisting of a data storage library and a vault storage.