Apparatus for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles and passenger drones via an air traffic control system

1 . A flying vehicle that is one of a passenger drone and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the flying vehicle comprising:

a plurality of rotors disposed to a body and configured for flight;

a processing device any of integrated with, disposed on, and associated with the body;

wireless interfaces including hardware and antennas any of integrated with, disposed on, and associated with the body; and

a control apparatus communicatively coupled to the processing device, wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide an interface between the wireless interfaces and an air traffic control system for control and/or monitoring of the flying vehicle by the air traffic control system.

2 . The flying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus is a dongle that connects to an interface associated with the processing device.

3 . The flying vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the dongle is added after manufacturing or purchase of the flying vehicle.

4 . The flying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus is a daughterboard that is added to the processing device during manufacturing of the flying vehicle.

5 . The flying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus includes instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium associated with the processing device.

6 . The flying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to allow and authenticate the flying vehicle on the air traffic control system.

7 . The flying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the air traffic control system communicates with the flying vehicle over one or more cellular networks via the wireless interfaces, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to implement the communications between the air traffic control system is and the flying vehicle.

8 . A control apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to connect to a processing device associated with a flying vehicle that is one of a passenger drone and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), wherein the flying vehicle includes a processing device and wireless interfaces;

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface; and

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

configure the wireless interfaces to communicate on one or more wireless networks;

interface between the wireless interfaces and an air traffic control system; and

enable control and/or monitoring of the flying vehicle by the air traffic control system.

9 . The control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control apparatus is a dongle that connects to an interface associated with the processing device.

10 . The control apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the dongle is added after manufacturing or purchase of the flying vehicle.

11 . The control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control apparatus is a daughterboard that is added to the processing device during manufacturing of the flying vehicle.

12 . The control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to allow and authenticate the flying vehicle on the air traffic control system.

13 . The control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the air traffic control system communicates with the flying vehicle over one or more cellular networks via the wireless interfaces, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to implement the communications between the air traffic control system is and the flying vehicle.

14 . A method comprising:

obtaining a flying vehicle that is one of a passenger drone and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), wherein the flying vehicle includes i) a processing device any of integrated with, disposed on, and associated with a body of the flying vehicle and ii) wireless interfaces including hardware and antennas any of integrated with, disposed on, and associated with the body;

installing a control apparatus that is connected to the processing device, wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide an interface between the wireless interfaces and an air traffic control system; and

monitoring and/or controlling the flying device via the air traffic control system.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus is a dongle that connects to an interface associated with the processing device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the dongle is added after manufacturing or purchase of the flying vehicle.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus is a daughterboard that is added to the processing device during manufacturing of the flying vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus includes instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium associated with the processing device.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to allow and authenticate the flying vehicle on the air traffic control system.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the air traffic control system communicates with the flying vehicle over one or more cellular networks via the wireless interfaces, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to implement the communications between the air traffic control system is and the flying vehicle.