Air traffic control of unmanned aerial vehicles via wireless networks

1. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control method utilizing wireless networks, the UAV air traffic control method comprising:

communicating with a plurality of UAVs via a plurality of cell towers associated with the wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers, and wherein each of the plurality of UAVs comprise a unique identifier;

maintaining data associated with flight of each of the plurality of UAVs based on the communicating; and

processing the maintained data to perform a plurality of functions associated with air traffic control of the plurality of UAVs,

wherein the plurality of UAVs are configured to constrain flight based on coverage of the plurality of cell towers such that the plurality of UAVs maintain communication on the wireless networks, wherein the constrained flight comprises one or more of pre-configuring the plurality of UAVs to operate only where the coverage exists, monitoring cell signal strength by the plurality of UAVs and adjusting flight based therein, and a combination thereof.

2. The UAV-based method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting data based on the processing to one or more of the plurality of UAVs to perform the plurality of functions.

3. The UAV-based method of claim 1 , wherein the maintaining data comprises the plurality of UAVs and/or the plurality of cell towers providing location, speed, direction, and altitude.

4. The UAV-based method of claim 3 , wherein the location is determined based on a combination of triangulation by the plurality of cell towers and a determination by the UAV based on a location identification network.

5. The UAV-based method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functions comprise one or more of separation assurance between UAVs; navigation assistance; weather and obstacle reporting; monitoring of speed, altitude, location, and direction; traffic management; landing services; and real-time control.

6. The UAV-based method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of UAVs are configured for autonomous operation through the air traffic control.

7. The UAV-based method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of UAVs are configured with mobile device hardware configured to operate on a plurality of different cell networks.

8. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) configured for air traffic control via an air traffic control system communicatively coupled to wireless networks, the UAV comprising:

one or more rotors disposed to a body;

wireless interfaces comprising hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers, and wherein the UAV comprises a unique identifier;

a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the one or more rotors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

communicate with a plurality of cell towers associated with the wireless networks;

transmit data associated with flight of each of the plurality of UAVs based on the communication with the plurality of cell towers; and

receive data from the plurality of cell towers based on maintained data by the air traffic control system to perform a plurality of functions associated with air traffic control of the UAV,

wherein the UAV is configured to constrain flight based on coverage of the plurality of cell towers such that the plurality of UAVs maintain communication on the wireless networks, and wherein the constrained flight comprises one or more of pre-configuring the UAV to operate only where the coverage exists, monitoring cell signal strength by the UAV and adjusting flight based therein, and a combination thereof.

9. The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the maintained data comprises the UAV and/or the plurality of cell towers providing location, speed, direction, and altitude.

10. The UAV of claim 9 , wherein the location is determined based on a combination of triangulation by the plurality of cell towers and a determination by the UAV based on a location identification network.

11. The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of functions comprise one or more of separation assurance between UAVs; navigation assistance; weather and obstacle reporting; monitoring of speed, altitude, location, and direction; traffic management; landing services; and real-time control.

12. The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the UAV is configured for autonomous operation through the air traffic control system.

13. The UAV of claim 8 , wherein the UAV is configured with mobile device hardware configured to operate on a plurality of different cell networks.

14. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air traffic control system utilizing wireless networks, the UAV air traffic control system comprising:

a processor and a network interface communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

communicate, via the network interface, with a plurality of UAVs via a plurality of cell towers associated with the wireless networks, wherein the plurality of UAVs each comprise hardware and antennas adapted to communicate to the plurality of cell towers, and wherein each of the plurality of UAVs comprise a unique identifier;

maintain data associated with flight of each of the plurality of UAVs based on the communicating; and

process the maintained data to perform a plurality of functions associated with air traffic control of the plurality of UAVs,

wherein the plurality of UAVs are configured to constrain flight based on coverage of the plurality of cell towers such that the plurality of UAVs maintain communication on the wireless networks, and wherein the constrained flight comprises one or more of pre-configuring the plurality of UAVs to operate only where the coverage exists, monitoring cell signal strength by the plurality of UAVs and adjusting flight based therein, and a combination thereof.