Mechanisms for lowering a payload to the ground from a UAV

A method comprising:

• determining, by a computing system, a variable deployment-rate profile for deployment of a payload from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein a line couples the payload to the UAV;
• after the variable deployment-rate profile being determined, the computing system causing a line-deployment mechanism to automatically operate according to the determined variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload towards the ground, wherein the variable deployment-rate profile specifies for the payload to initially descend at a first rate and subsequently, during the descent, to decrease in speed from the first rate to continue descent at a second rate;
• detecting, by the computing system, at least one release indication that indicates that the payload is at or near to the ground;
• and
• in response to detecting the at least one release indication, the computing system stopping deployment of the line by the line-deployment mechanism and causing the payload to be released from the line.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• determining, by a computing system, a variable deployment-rate profile for deployment of a payload from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein a line couples the payload to the UAV;
• after the variable deployment-rate profile being determined, the computing system causing a line-deployment mechanism to automatically operate according to the determined variable deployment-rate profile to lower the payload towards the ground, wherein the variable deployment-rate profile specifies for the payload to initially descend at a first rate and subsequently, during the descent, to decrease in speed from the first rate to continue descent at a second rate;
• detecting, by the computing system, at least one release indication that indicates that the payload is at or near to the ground;
• and
• in response to detecting the at least one release indication, the computing system stopping deployment of the line by the line-deployment mechanism and causing the payload to be released from the line.