Flying lane management systems and methods for unmanned aerial vehicles

An air traffic control system communicatively coupled to one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) via one or more wireless networks adapted to perform flying lane management, the air traffic control system comprising:

• a network interface and one or more processors communicatively coupled to one another;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
• initiate communication to the one or more UAVs at a preflight stage for each, wherein the communication is via one or more cell towers associated with the one or more wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers;
• determine a flying lane for the one or more UAVs based on a destination, current air traffic in a region under management of the air traffic control system, and based on detected obstructions in the region;
• provide the flying lane to the one or more UAVs are an approval to takeoff and fly along the flying lane;
• continue the communication during flight on the flying lane and receiving data from the one or more UAVs, wherein the data comprises feedback during the flight, wherein the one or more UAVs are constrained to maintain wireless coverage with the plurality of cell towers during the flight through the flying lane which is based on where coverage exists and in-flight monitoring of cell signal strength and adjustment to the flight based thereon;
• and
• utilize the feedback to update the flying lane, to update other flying lanes, and to manage air traffic in the region.