System and method for operating unmanned aircraft

A system for an unmanned aircraft configured for power transfer from a power system providing a power source including a power line, the system comprising:

• [1] an energy storage system;
• [2] an interface for power transfer configured to transfer power from the power line along a length of the power line to the energy storage system, wherein the interface power line along the length of the power line, wherein the interface extends below a base of the unmanned aircraft supporting a rotor system and extending in a direction away from the rotor system and is configured to enable the unmanned aircraft to transfer power directly from the power line while the unmanned aircraft is one of flying along the length of the power line and hovering along the power line;
• [3] an identifier provided to identify the unmanned aircraft for the power system;
• and
• [4] a system configured for data communications with the power system and the unmanned aircraft to manage a billing transaction for the transferring of power between the unmanned aircraft and the power system;
• wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the unmanned aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the unmanned aircraft can be provided for the power source by the identifier of the unmanned aircraft;
• wherein power transfer is by one of capacitive power transfer or inductive power transfer.

A system for an unmanned aircraft configured for power transfer from a power system providing a power source including a power line, the system comprising:

• (a) an energy storage system;
• (b) an interface for power transfer configured to transfer power from the power line along a length of the power line to the energy storage system, wherein the interface is configured to extend only partially around the power line and to enable the unmanned aircraft to transfer power directly from the power line while the unmanned aircraft is one of flying along the length of the power line and hovering along the power line;
• (c) an identifier provided to identify the unmanned aircraft for the power source;
• and
• (d) a system configured for data communications by the unmanned aircraft with the power system to manage a billing transaction for the transferring of power between the unmanned aircraft and the power source;
• wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the unmanned aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the unmanned aircraft can be provided for the power source by the identifier of the unmanned aircraft.

A method of operating an unmanned aircraft with an energy storage system and identifier configured for an interface for power transfer from a power system providing a power source including at least one power line, the method comprising:

• (a) interacting with the power system;
• (b) interfacing with the power source at the interface, wherein the interface is configured to enable the unmanned aircraft to transfer power directly from the power line, wherein the interface is configured to extend only partially around the power line, and to enable the unmanned aircraft to transfer power directly from the power line while the unmanned aircraft is one of flying along the length of the power line and hovering along the power line;
• (c) transferring power from the power source to the energy storage system;
• (d) communicating with the power system;
• and
• (e) transacting with the power system to manage a billing transaction for the transferring of power between the unmanned aircraft and the power system;
• wherein power transfer to the energy storage system of the unmanned aircraft can be provided by the power source at the interface and identification of the unmanned aircraft can be provided for the power system by the identifier of the unmanned aircraft;
• wherein power transfer is by wireless power transfer.

A method of transferring power to an unmanned aircraft having an energy storage system from a power source provided by a power system with a monitoring system and an administration system and providing a structure for power lines of the power source, the method comprising:

• 1. providing an interface between the unmanned aircraft and the power source from which the unmanned aircraft may transfer power directly from the power line along the length of the power line, wherein the unmanned aircraft includes a base supporting a rotor system and the interface extends below the base of the unmanned aircraft in a direction away from the rotor system and is configured to extend only partially around the power line, and wherein the interface is configured to enable the unmanned aircraft to transfer power directly from the power line while the unmanned aircraft is one of flying along the length of the power line and hovering along the power line;
• 2. establishing data communication by the unmanned aircraft with the administration system for the power source to manage a billing transaction for the transferring of power between the unmanned aircraft and the power system;
• and
• 3. transferring power to the unmanned aircraft from the power source through the interface by one of capacitive power transfer or inductive power transfer.