Patent Publication Number: US-10327151-B2

Title: Wireless coverage testing systems and methods with unmanned aerial vehicles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present patent/application is continuation-in-part of and the content of each are incorporated by reference herein: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Filing Date 
                 Ser. No. 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 May 31, 2016 
                 15/168,503 
                 VIRTUALIZED SITE SURVEY SYSTEMS  
               
               
                   
                   
                 AND METHODS FOR CELL SITES 
               
               
                 May 20, 2016 
                 15/160,890 
                 3D MODELING OF CELL SITES AND  
               
               
                   
                   
                 CELL TOWERS WITH UNMANNED  
               
               
                   
                   
                 AERIAL VEHICLES 
               
               
                 Apr. 18, 2016 
                 15/131,460 
                 UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE-BASED  
               
               
                   
                   
                 SYSTEMS AND METHODS ASSOCIATED  
               
               
                   
                   
                 WITH CELL SITES AND CELL TOWERS  
               
               
                   
                   
                 WITH ROBOTIC ARMS FOR  
               
               
                   
                   
                 PERFORMING OPERATIONS 
               
               
                 Jun. 11, 2015 
                 14/736,925 
                 TETHERED UNMANNED AERIAL  
               
               
                   
                   
                 VEHICLE-BASED SYSTEMS AND  
               
               
                   
                   
                 METHODS ASSOCIATED WITH CELL  
               
               
                   
                   
                 SITES AND CELL TOWERS 
               
               
                 Apr. 14, 2015 
                 14/685,720 
                 UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE-BASED  
               
               
                   
                   
                 SYSTEMS AND METHODS ASSOCIATED  
               
               
                   
                   
                 WITH CELL SITES AND CELL TOWERS 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to wireless networking systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to wireless coverage testing systems and methods with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Due to the geographic coverage nature of wireless service, there are hundreds of thousands of cell towers in the United States. For example, in 2014, it was estimated that there were more than 310,000 cell towers in the United States. Cell towers can have heights up to 1,500 feet or more. There are various requirements for cell site workers (also referred to as tower climbers or transmission tower workers) to climb cell towers to perform maintenance, audit, and repair work for cellular phone and other wireless communications companies. This is both a dangerous and costly endeavor. For example, between 2003 and 2011, 50 tower climbers died working on cell sites (see, e.g., www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/social-issues/cell-tower-deaths/in-race-for-better-cell-service-men-who-climb-towers-pay-with-their-lives/). Also, OSHA estimates that working on cell sites is 10 times more dangerous than construction work, generally (see, e.g., www.propublica.org/article/cell-tower-work-fatalities-methodology). Furthermore, the tower climbs also can lead to service disruptions caused by accidents. Thus, there is a strong desire, from both a cost and safety perspective, to reduce the number of tower climbs. 
     Concurrently, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), referred to as drones, is evolving. There are limitations associated with UAVs, including emerging FAA rules and guidelines associated with their commercial use. It would be advantageous to leverage the use of UAVs to reduce tower climbs of cell towers. US 20140298181 to Rezvan describes methods and systems for performing a cell site audit remotely. However, Rezvan does not contemplate performing any activity locally at the cell site, nor various aspects of UAV use. US 20120250010 to Hannay describes aerial inspections of transmission lines using drones. However, Hannay does not contemplate performing any activity locally at the cell site, nor various aspects of constraining the UAV use. Specifically, Hannay contemplates a flight path in three dimensions along a transmission line. 
     Of course it would be advantageous to further utilize UAVs to actually perform operations on a cell tower. However, adding one or more robotic arms, carrying extra equipment, etc. presents a significantly complex problem in terms of UAV stabilization while in flight, i.e., counterbalancing the UAV to account for the weight and movement of the robotic arms. Research and development continues in this area, but current solutions are complex and costly, eliminating the drivers for using UAVs for performing cell tower work. 
     3D modeling is important for cell site operators, cell tower owners, engineers, etc. There exist current techniques to make 3D models of physical sites such as cell sites. One approach is to take hundreds or thousands of pictures and to use software techniques to combine these pictures to form a 3D model. Generally, conventional approaches for obtaining the pictures include fixed cameras at the ground with zoom capabilities or pictures via tower climbers. It would be advantageous to utilize a UAV to obtain the pictures, providing 360 degree photos from an aerial perspective. Use of aerial pictures is suggested in in US 20100231687 to Armory. However, this approach generally assumes pictures taken from a fixed perspective relative to the cell site, such as via a fixed, mounted camera and a mounted camera in an aircraft. It has been determined that such an approach is moderately inaccurate during 3D modeling and combination with software due to slight variations in location tracking capabilities of systems such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). It would be advantageous to adapt a UAV to take pictures and provide systems and methods for accurate 3D modeling based thereon to again leverage the advantages of UAVs over tower climbers, i.e., safety, climbing speed and overall speed, cost, etc. 
     In the process of planning, installing, maintaining, and operating cell sites and cell towers, site surveys are performed for testing, auditing, planning, diagnosing, inventorying, etc. Conventional site surveys involve physical site access including access to the top of the cell tower, the interior of any buildings, cabinets, shelters, huts, hardened structures, etc. at the cell site, and the like. With over 200,000 cell sites in the U.S., geographically distributed everywhere, site surveys can be expensive, time-consuming, and complex. The various parent applications associated herewith describe techniques to utilize UAVs to optimize and provide safer site surveys. It would also be advantageous to further optimize site surveys by minimizing travel through virtualization of the entire process. 
     Wireless coverage testing is important for service providers and consumers—it is used for marketing purposes (who has the better network) and for engineering purposes (where do we need to augment or improve our coverage). Conventional approaches to wireless coverage testing utilize so-called drive tests where wireless coverage is tested by physically driving around a region with a test device and making measurements along the way. The conventional approaches are limited to ground coverage, not aerial coverage, as conventional drive tests are just that—driven by a vehicle on the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating use of the wireless network in some manner for air traffic control of UAVs. Thus, there is a need to extend conventional drive tests to support wireless coverage testing above the ground. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In an exemplary embodiment, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based method of wireless coverage testing includes, with a UAV including a wireless coverage testing configuration, flying the UAV in a route in a wireless coverage area associated with a cell tower; collecting measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flying and associating the collected measurement data with location identifiers; and, subsequent to the flying, processing the collected measurement data with the location identifiers to provide an output detailing wireless coverage in the wireless coverage area including wireless coverage at ground level and above ground level to a set elevation. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted for wireless coverage testing includes one or more rotors disposed to a body; wireless interfaces; a wireless coverage testing configuration; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces, the one or more rotors, and the wireless coverage testing configuration; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: cause the UAV to fly in a route in a wireless coverage area associated with a cell tower; collect measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flight and associate the collected measurement data with location identifiers; and, subsequent to the flight, provide the collected measurement data with the location identifiers for processing to provide an output detailing wireless coverage in the wireless coverage area including wireless coverage at ground level and above ground level to a set elevation. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a virtual site survey method at a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site including one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method for modeling a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) includes causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site has the same launch location and launch orientation; obtaining a plurality of photographs of the cell site during about the flight plane, wherein each of the plurality of photographs is associated with one or more location identifiers; and, subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on the associated with one or more location identifiers and one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV includes one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight; physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV; and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method with a tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site while the UAV is tethered at or near the cell site via a connection, wherein flight of the UAV at or near the cell site is constrained based on the connection; and performing one or more functions via the UAV at or near the cell site while the UAV is flying tethered at or near the cell site. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method performed at a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communicatively coupled to a controller to perform a cell site audit, without requiring a tower climb at the cell site, includes causing the UAV to fly substantially vertically up to cell site components using the controller, wherein flight of the UAV is constrained in a three-dimensional rectangle at the cell site; collecting data associated with the cell site components using the UAV; transmitting and/or storing the collected data; and processing the collected data to obtain information for the cell site audit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system components/method steps, as appropriate, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a side view of an exemplary cell site; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a cell site audit performed with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); 
         FIG. 3  is a screen diagram of a view of a graphical user interface (GUI) on a mobile device while piloting the UAV; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary UAV for use with the systems and methods described herein&#39; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a mobile device, which may be used for the cell site audit or the like; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a cell site audit method utilizing the UAV and the mobile device; 
         FIG. 7  is a network diagram of various cell sites deployed in a geographic region; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of a tethered configuration with a UAV at a cell site; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of another tethered configuration with a UAV at a cell site; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a method with a tethered UAV associated with a cell site; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of a UAV with robotic arms at a cell site; 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of the UAV with robotic arms and a payload at a cell site; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart of a method with a UAV with robotic arms at a cell site; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram of the cell site and an associated launch configuration and flight for the UAV to obtain photos for a 3D model of the cell site; 
         FIG. 15  is a satellite view of an exemplary flight of the UAV at the cell site; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of an exemplary flight of the UAV at the cell site; 
         FIG. 17  is a logical diagram of a portion of a cell tower along with associated photos taken by the UAV at different points relative thereto; 
         FIG. 18  is a screen shot of a Graphic User Interface (GUI) associated with post processing photos from the UAV; 
         FIG. 19  is a screen shot of a 3D model constructed from a plurality of 2D photos taken from the UAV as described herein; 
         FIGS. 20-25  are various screen shots illustrate GUIs associated with a 3D model of a cell site based on photos taken from the UAV as described herein; 
         FIG. 26  is a photo of the UAV in flight at the top of a cell tower; 
         FIG. 27  is a flowchart of a process for modeling a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV); 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram of an exemplary interior of a building, such as the shelter or cabinet, at the cell site; 
         FIG. 29  is a flowchart of a virtual site survey process for the cell site; 
         FIG. 30  is a block diagram of functional components associated with the UAV to support wireless coverage testing; 
         FIG. 31  is a map of three cell sites and associated coverage areas for describing conventional drive testing; 
         FIG. 32  is a 3D view of a cell tower with an associated coverage area in three dimensions—x, y, and z for illustrating UAV-based wireless coverage testing; and 
         FIG. 33  is a flowchart of a UAV-based wireless coverage testing process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Again, in various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure relates to wireless coverage testing systems and methods with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Specifically, a UAV is equipment with equipment for performing a wireless coverage test, e.g., wireless scanners, location identification equipment, antennas, and processing and data storage equipment. The UAV is flown about a cell tower around a region, taking measurements along the way. Subsequently, processing on the measurements enables the assessment of wireless coverage not just near the ground, but in the aerial region about the cell tower in the region. It is expected such measurements and assessments can be used to ensure proper wireless coverage in the air, such as up to 100&#39;s of feet, enabling the cell tower to act as an air traffic control point for UAVs flying in the region as well as a central hub for managing and controlling UAVs. Additionally, the wireless coverage testing systems and methods provide a quicker and more efficient improvement over conventional drive tests solely on the ground. 
     Further, in various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure relates to virtualized site survey systems and methods using three-dimensional (3D) modeling of cell sites and cell towers with and without unmanned aerial vehicles. The virtualized site survey systems and methods utilizing photo data capture along with location identifiers, points of interest, etc. to create three-dimensional (3D) modeling of all aspects of the cell sites, including interiors of buildings, cabinets, shelters, huts, hardened structures, etc. As described herein, a site survey can also include a site inspection, cell site audit, or anything performed based on the 3D model of the cell site including building interiors. With the data capture, 3D modeling can render a completely virtual representation of the cell sites. The data capture can be performed by on-site personnel, automatically with fixed, networked cameras, or a combination thereof. With the data capture and the associated 3D model, engineers and planners can perform site surveys, without visiting the sites leading to significant efficiency in cost and time. From the 3D model, any aspect of the site survey can be performed remotely including determinations of equipment location, accurate spatial rendering, planning through drag and drop placement of equipment, access to actual photos through a Graphical User Interface, indoor texture mapping, and equipment configuration visualization mapping the equipment in a 3D rack. 
     Further, in various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure relates to three-dimensional (3D) modeling of cell sites and cell towers with unmanned aerial vehicles. The present disclosure includes UAV-based systems and methods for 3D modeling and representing of cell sites and cell towers. The systems and methods include obtaining various pictures via a UAV at the cell site, flying around the cell site to obtain various different angles of various locations, tracking the various pictures (i.e., enough pictures to produce an acceptable 3D model, usually hundreds, but could be more) with location identifiers, and processing the various pictures to develop a 3D model of the cell site and the cell tower. Additionally, the systems and methods focus on precision and accuracy ensuring the location identifiers are as accurate as possible for the processing by using multiple different location tracking techniques as well as ensuring the UAV is launched from a same location and/or orientation for each flight. The same location and/or orientation, as described herein, was shown to provide more accurate location identifiers versus arbitrary location launches and orientations for different flights. Additionally, once the 3D model is constructed, the systems and methods include an application which enables cell site owners and cell site operators to “click” on any location and obtain associated photos, something extremely useful in the ongoing maintenance and operation thereof. Also, once constructed, the 3D model is capable of various measurements including height, angles, thickness, elevation, even Radio Frequency (RF), and the like. 
     Still further, in various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure relates to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based systems and methods associated with cell sites and cell towers, such as performing operations on cell towers via robotic arms on the UAV. To solve the issues of counterbalancing the UAV with additional weight due to carrying components and robotic arm movement, the systems and methods physically connect the UAV to the cell tower prior to deploying and operating the robotic arms. In this manner, the UAV can be flown up the cell tower with the robotic arms stationary and optionally with equipment carried therein, tethered to the cell tower, and the robotic arms can move without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV in flight. That is, the UAV is stationary and fixed to the cell tower while performing operations and maneuvers with the robotic arms. Accordingly, the systems and methods do not require complex counterbalancing techniques and provide superior stability since the UAV is not in flight while using the robotic arms. This approach allows use of commercial UAV devices without requiring complex control circuitry. Specifically, cell towers lend themselves to physical connections to the UAV. As described herein, various maintenance and installation tasks can be accomplished on a cell tower while eliminating tower climbs therefor. 
     Still further, in additional exemplary embodiments, UAV-based systems and methods are described associated with cell sites, such as for providing cell tower audits and the like, including a tethered configuration. Various aspects of UAVs are described herein to reduce tower climbs in conjunction with cell tower audits. Additional aspects are described utilizing UAVs for other functions, such as flying from cell tower to cell tower to provide audit services and the like. Advantageously, using UAVs for cell tower audits exponentially improves the safety of cell tower audits and has been shown by Applicants to reduce costs by over 40%, as well as drastically improving audit time. With the various aspects described herein, a UAV-based audit can provide superior information and quality of such information, including a 360 degree tower view. In one aspect, the systems and methods include a constrained flight zone for the UAV such as a three-dimensional rectangle (an “ice cube” shape) about the cell tower. This constrained flight zone allows the systems and methods to operate the UAV without extensive regulations such as including extra personnel for “spotting” and requiring private pilot&#39;s licenses. 
     The tethered configuration includes a connection between the UAV and one or more components at a cell site. The connection can include a cable, a rope, a power cable, a communications cable, a fiber optic cable, etc., i.e., any connection with strength to constrain the UAV to the cell site. One aspect of the tethered configuration is to constrain a flight path of the UAV at the cell site. Here, the UAV may be considered part of the cell site/cell tower and not a flying vehicle that is subject to airspace regulations. Another aspect of the tethered configuration is to provide power and/or communications to the UAV. Here, the UAV can maintain extended periods of flight to provide cell site audits, wireless service, visual air traffic surveillance, etc. With the connection providing power and/or communications, the UAV can fly extended time periods. The connection can be tethered to the cell tower or some associated component, to a stake, weight, fence, building structure, etc. 
     § 1.0 Exemplary Cell Site 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an exemplary embodiment, a diagram illustrates a side view of an exemplary cell site  10 . The cell site  10  includes a cell tower  12 . The cell tower  12  can be any type of elevated structure, such as 100-200 feet/30-60 meters tall. Generally, the cell tower  12  is an elevated structure for holding cell site components  14 . The cell tower  12  may also include a lighting rod  16  and a warning light  18 . Of course, there may various additional components associated with the cell tower  12  and the cell site  10  which are omitted for illustration purposes. In this exemplary embodiment, there are four sets  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  of cell site components  14 , such as for four different wireless service providers. In this example, the sets  20 ,  22 ,  24  include various antennas  30  for cellular service. The sets  20 ,  22 ,  24  are deployed in sectors, e.g. there can be three sectors for the cell site components—alpha, beta, and gamma. The antennas  30  are used to both transmit a radio signal to a mobile device and receive the signal from the mobile device. The antennas  30  are usually deployed as a single, groups of two, three or even four per sector. The higher the frequency of spectrum supported by the antenna  30 , the shorter the antenna  30 . For example, the antennas  30  may operate around 850 MHz, 1.9 GHz, and the like. The set  26  includes a microwave dish  32  which can be used to provide other types of wireless connectivity, besides cellular service. There may be other embodiments where the cell tower  12  is omitted and replaced with other types of elevated structures such as roofs, water tanks, etc. 
     § 2.0 Cell Site Audits Via UAV 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an exemplary embodiment, a diagram illustrates a cell site audit  40  performed with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)  50 . As described herein, the cell site audit  40  is used by service providers, third party engineering companies, tower operators, etc. to check and ensure proper installation, maintenance, and operation of the cell site components  14  and shelter or cabinet  52  equipment as well as the various interconnections between them. From a physical accessibility perspective, the cell tower  12  includes a climbing mechanism  54  for tower climbers to access the cell site components  14 .  FIG. 2  includes a perspective view of the cell site  10  with the sets  20 ,  26  of the cell site components  14 . The cell site components  14  for the set  20  include three sectors—alpha sector  54 , beta sector  56 , and gamma sector  58 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  is utilized to perform the cell site audit  40  in lieu of a tower climber access the cell site components  14  via the climbing mechanism  54 . In the cell site audit  40 , an engineer/technician is local to the cell site  10  to perform various tasks. The systems and methods described herein eliminate a need for the engineer/technician to climb the cell tower  12 . Of note, it is still important for the engineer/technician to be local to the cell site  10  as various aspects of the cell site audit  40  cannot be done remotely as described herein. Furthermore, the systems and methods described herein provide an ability for a single engineer/technician to perform the cell site audit  40  without another person handling the UAV  50  or a person with a pilot&#39;s license operating the UAV  50  as described herein. 
     § 2.1 Cell Site Audit 
     In general, the cell site audit  40  is performed to gather information and identify a state of the cell site  10 . This is used to check the installation, maintenance, and/or operation of the cell site  10 . Various aspects of the cell site audit  40  can include, without limitation: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Verify the cell site 10 is built according to a current revision 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Equipment Labeling 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Cable (“Coax”) Bend Radius 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Color Coding/Tagging 
               
               
                   
                 Check for Coax External Kinks &amp; Dents 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Ground Kits 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Hanger/Support 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Jumpers 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Coax Size 
               
               
                   
                 Check for Connector Stress &amp; Distortion 
               
               
                   
                 Check for Connector Weatherproofing 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Correct Duplexers/Diplexers Installed 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Duplexer/Diplexer Mounting 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Duplexers/Diplexers Installed Correctly 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Fiber Paper 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Lacing &amp; Tie Wraps 
               
               
                   
                 Check for Loose Or Cross-Threaded Coax Connectors 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Return (“Ret”) Cables 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Ret Connectors 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Ret Grounding 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Ret Installation 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Ret Lightning Protection Unit (LPI) 
               
               
                   
                 Check for Shelter/Cabinet Penetrations 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Surge Arrestor Installation/Grounding 
               
               
                   
                 Verify Site Cleanliness 
               
               
                   
                 Verify LTE GPS Antenna Installation 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Of note, the cell site audit  40  includes gathering information at and inside the shelter or cabinet  52 , on the cell tower  12 , and at the cell site components  14 . Note, it is not possible to perform all of the above items solely with the UAV  50  or remotely. 
     § 3.0 Piloting the UAV at the Cell Site 
     It is important to note that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of regulating commercial UAV (drone) operation. It is expected that these regulations would not be complete until 2016 or 2017. In terms of these regulations, commercial operation of the UAV  50 , which would include the cell site audit  40 , requires at least two people, one acting as a spotter and one with a pilot&#39;s license. These regulations, in the context of the cell site audit  40 , would make use of the UAV  50  impractical. To that end, the systems and methods described herein propose operation of the UAV  50  under FAA exemptions which allow the cell site audit  40  to occur without requiring two people and without requiring a pilot&#39;s license. Here, the UAV  50  is constrained to fly up and down at the cell site  10  and within a three-dimensional (3D) rectangle at the cell site components. These limitations on the flight path of the UAV  50  make the use of the UAV  50  feasible at the cell site  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an exemplary embodiment, a screen diagram illustrates a view of a graphical user interface (GUI)  60  on a mobile device  100  while piloting the UAV  50 . The GUI  60  provides a real-time view to the engineer/technician piloting the UAV  50 . That is, a screen  62  provides a view from a camera on the UAV  50 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cell site  10  is shown with the cell site components  14  in the view of the screen  62 . Also, the GUI  60  have various controls  64 ,  66 . The controls  64  are used to pilot the UAV  50  and the controls  66  are used to perform functions in the cell site audit  40  and the like. 
     § 3.1 FAA Regulations 
     The FAA is overwhelmed with applications from companies interested in flying drones, but the FAA is intent on keeping the skies safe. Currently, approved exemptions for flying drones include tight rules. Once approved, there is some level of certification for drone operators along with specific rules such as, speed limit of 100 mph, height limitations such as 400 ft, no-fly zones, day only operation, documentation, and restrictions on aerial filming. Accordingly, flight at or around cell towers is constrained and the systems and methods described herein fully comply with the relevant restrictions associated with drone flights from the FAA. 
     § 4.0 Exemplary Hardware 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an exemplary embodiment, a perspective view illustrates an exemplary UAV  50  for use with the systems and methods described herein. Again, the UAV  50  may be referred to as a drone or the like. The UAV  50  may be a commercially available UAV platform that has been modified to carry specific electronic components as described herein to implement the various systems and methods. The UAV  50  includes rotors  80  attached to a body  82 . A lower frame  84  is located on a bottom portion of the body  82 , for landing the UAV  50  to rest on a flat surface and absorb impact during landing. The UAV  50  also includes a camera  86  which is used to take still photographs, video, and the like. Specifically, the camera  86  is used to provide the real-time display on the screen  62 . The UAV  50  includes various electronic components inside the body  82  and/or the camera  86  such as, without limitation, a processor, a data store, memory, a wireless interface, and the like. Also, the UAV  50  can include additional hardware, such as robotic arms or the like that allow the UAV  50  to attach/detach components for the cell site components  14 . Specifically, it is expected that the UAV  50  will get bigger and more advanced, capable of carrying significant loads, and not just a wireless camera. The present disclosure contemplates using the UAV  50  for various aspects at the cell site  10 , including participating in construction or deconstruction of the cell tower  12 , the cell site components  14 , etc. 
     These various components are now described with reference to a mobile device  100 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the UAV  50  can include similar components to the mobile device  100 . Of note, the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100  can be used cooperatively to perform various aspects of the cell site audit  40  described herein. In other embodiments, the UAV  50  can be operated with a controller instead of the mobile device  100 . The mobile device  100  may solely be used for real-time video from the camera  86  such as via a wireless connection (e.g., IEEE 802.11 or variants thereof). Some portions of the cell site audit  40  can be performed with the UAV  50 , some with the mobile device  100 , and others solely by the operator though visual inspection. In some embodiments, all of the aspects can be performed in the UAV  50 . In other embodiments, the UAV  50  solely relays data to the mobile device  100  which performs all of the aspects. Other embodiments are also contemplated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an exemplary embodiment, a block diagram illustrates a mobile device  100 , which may be used for the cell site audit  40  or the like. The mobile device  100  can be a digital device that, in terms of hardware architecture, generally includes a processor  102 , input/output (I/O) interfaces  104 , wireless interfaces  106 , a data store  108 , and memory  110 . It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that  FIG. 5  depicts the mobile device  100  in an oversimplified manner, and a practical embodiment may include additional components and suitably configured processing logic to support known or conventional operating features that are not described in detail herein. The components ( 102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  102 ) are communicatively coupled via a local interface  112 . The local interface  112  can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The local interface  112  can have additional elements, which are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, among many others, to enable communications. Further, the local interface  112  may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components. 
     The processor  102  is a hardware device for executing software instructions. The processor  102  can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the mobile device  100 , a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), or generally any device for executing software instructions. When the mobile device  100  is in operation, the processor  102  is configured to execute software stored within the memory  110 , to communicate data to and from the memory  110 , and to generally control operations of the mobile device  100  pursuant to the software instructions. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor  102  may include a mobile optimized processor such as optimized for power consumption and mobile applications. The I/O interfaces  104  can be used to receive user input from and/or for providing system output. User input can be provided via, for example, a keypad, a touch screen, a scroll ball, a scroll bar, buttons, bar code scanner, and the like. System output can be provided via a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), touch screen, and the like. The I/O interfaces  104  can also include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a small computer system interface (SCSI), an infrared (IR) interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and the like. The I/O interfaces  104  can include a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables a user to interact with the mobile device  100 . Additionally, the I/O interfaces  104  may further include an imaging device, i.e. camera, video camera, etc. 
     The wireless interfaces  106  enable wireless communication to an external access device or network. Any number of suitable wireless data communication protocols, techniques, or methodologies can be supported by the wireless interfaces  106 , including, without limitation: RF; IrDA (infrared); Bluetooth; ZigBee (and other variants of the IEEE 802.15 protocol); IEEE 802.11 (any variation); IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX or any other variation); Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum; Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum; Long Term Evolution (LTE); cellular/wireless/cordless telecommunication protocols (e.g. 3G/4G, etc.); wireless home network communication protocols; paging network protocols; magnetic induction; satellite data communication protocols; wireless hospital or health care facility network protocols such as those operating in the WMTS bands; GPRS; proprietary wireless data communication protocols such as variants of Wireless USB; and any other protocols for wireless communication. The wireless interfaces  106  can be used to communicate with the UAV  50  for command and control as well as to relay data therebetween. The data store  108  may be used to store data. The data store  108  may include any of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, and the like)), nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, and the like), and combinations thereof. Moreover, the data store  108  may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. 
     The memory  110  may include any of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)), nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, etc.), and combinations thereof. Moreover, the memory  110  may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory  110  may have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remotely from one another, but can be accessed by the processor  102 . The software in memory  110  can include one or more software programs, each of which includes an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the software in the memory  110  includes a suitable operating system (O/S)  114  and programs  116 . The operating system  114  essentially controls the execution of other computer programs, and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services. The programs  116  may include various applications, add-ons, etc. configured to provide end user functionality with the mobile device  100 , including performing various aspects of the systems and methods described herein. 
     It will be appreciated that some exemplary embodiments described herein may include one or more generic or specialized processors (“one or more processors”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the methods and/or systems described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions may be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the aforementioned approaches may be used. Moreover, some exemplary embodiments may be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer, server, appliance, device, etc. each of which may include a processor to perform methods as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), Flash memory, and the like. When stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium, software can include instructions executable by a processor that, in response to such execution, cause a processor or any other circuitry to perform a set of operations, steps, methods, processes, algorithms, etc. 
     § 4.1 RF Sensors in the UAV 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can also include one or more RF sensors disposed therein. The RF sensors can be any device capable of making wireless measurements related to signals associated with the cell site components  14 , i.e., the antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be further configured to fly around a cell zone associated with the cell site  10  to identify wireless coverage through various measurements associated with the RF sensors. 
     § 5.0 Cell Site Audit with UAV and/or Mobile Device 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flow chart illustrates a cell site audit method  200  utilizing the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100 . Again, in various exemplary embodiments, the cell site audit  40  can be performed with the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100 . In other exemplary embodiments, the cell site audit  40  can be performed with the UAV  50  and an associated controller. In other embodiments, the mobile device  100  is solely used to relay real-time video from the camera  86 . While the steps of the cell site audit method  200  are listed sequentially, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize some or all of the steps may be performed in a different order. The cell site audit method  200  includes an engineer/technician at a cell site with the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100  (step  202 ). Again, one aspect of the systems and methods described herein is usage of the UAV  50 , in a commercial setting, but with constraints such that only one operator is required and such that the operator does not have to hold a pilot&#39;s license. As described herein, the constraints can include flight of the UAV  50  at or near the cell site  10  only, a flight pattern up and down in a 3D rectangle at the cell tower  12 , a maximum height restriction (e.g., 500 feet or the like), and the like. For example, the cell site audit  40  is performed by one of i) a single operator flying the UAV  50  without a license or ii) two operators including one with a license and one to spot the UAV  50 . 
     The engineer/technician performs one or more aspects of the cell site audit  40  without the UAV  50  (step  204 ). Note, there are many aspects of the cell site audit  40  as described herein. It is not possible for the UAV  50  to perform all of these items such that the engineer/technician could be remote from the cell site  10 . For example, access to the shelter or cabinet  52  for audit purposes requires the engineer/technician to be local. In this step, the engineer/technician can perform any audit functions as described herein that do not require climbing. 
     The engineer/technician can cause the UAV  50  to fly up the cell tower  12  or the like to view cell site components  14  (step  206 ). Again, this flight can be based on the constraints, and the flight can be through a controller and/or the mobile device  100 . The UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can collect data associated with the cell site components  14  (step  208 ), and process the collected data to obtain information for the cell site audit  40  (step  210 ). As described herein, the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100  can be configured to collect data via video and/or photographs. The engineer/technician can use this collected data to perform various aspects of the cell site audit  40  with the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100  and without a tower climb. 
     The foregoing descriptions detail specific aspects of the cell site audit  40  using the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100 . In these aspects, data can be collected—generally, the data is video or photographs of the cell site components  14 . The processing of the data can be automated through the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  to compute certain items as described herein. Also, the processing of the data can be performed either at the cell site  10  or afterwards by the engineer/technician. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be a commercial, “off-the-shelf” drone with a Wi-Fi enabled camera for the camera  86 . Here, the UAV  50  is flown with a controller pad which can include a joystick or the like. Alternatively, the UAV  50  can be flown with the mobile device  100 , such as with an app installed on the mobile device  100  configured to control the UAV  50 . The Wi-Fi enable camera is configured to communicate with the mobile device  100 —to both display real-time video and audio as well as to capture photos and/or video during the cell site audit  40  for immediate processing or for later processing to gather relevant information about the cell site components  14  for the cell site audit  40 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be a so-called “drone in a box” which is preprogrammed/configured to fly a certain route, such as based on the flight constraints described herein. The “drone in a box” can be physically transported to the cell site  10  or actually located there. The “drone in a box” can be remotely controlled as well. 
     § 5.1 Antenna Down Tilt Angle 
     In an exemplary aspect of the cell site audit  40 , the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can be used to determine a down tilt angle of individual antennas  30  of the cell site components  14 . The down tilt angle can be determined for all of the antennas  30  in all of the sectors  54 ,  56 ,  58 . The down tilt angle is the mechanical (external) down tilt of the antennas  30  relative to a support bar  200 . In the cell site audit  40 , the down tilt angle is compared against an expected value, such as from a Radio Frequency (RF) data sheet, and the comparison may check to ensure the mechanical (external) down tilt is within ±1.0° of specification on the RF data sheet. 
     Using the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100 , the down tilt angle is determined from a photo taken from the camera  86 . In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  is configured to measure three points—two defined by the antenna  30  and one by the support bar  200  to determine the down tilt angle of the antenna  30 . For example, the down tilt angle can be determined visually from the side of the antenna  30 —measuring a triangle formed by a top of the antenna  30 , a bottom of the antenna  30 , and the support bar  200 . 
     § 5.2 Antenna Plumb 
     In an exemplary aspect of the cell site audit  40  and similar to determining the down tilt angle, the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can be used to visually inspect the antenna  30  including its mounting brackets and associated hardware. This can be done to verify appropriate hardware installation, to verify the hardware is not loose or missing, and to verify that antenna  30  is plumb relative to the support bar  200 . 
     § 5.3 Antenna Azimuth 
     In an exemplary aspect of the cell site audit  40 , the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can be used to verify the antenna azimuth, such as verifying the antenna azimuth is oriented within ±5° as defined on the RF data sheet. The azimuth (AZ) angle is the compass bearing, relative to true (geographic) north, of a point on the horizon directly beneath an observed object. Here, the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can include a location determining device such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) measurement device. The antenna azimuth can be determined with the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  using an aerial photo or the GPS measurement device. 
     § 5.4 Photo Collections 
     As part of the cell site audit  40  generally, the UAV  50  and/or the mobile device  100  can be used to document various aspects of the cell site  10  by taking photos or video. For example, the mobile device  100  can be used to take photos or video on the ground in or around the shelter or cabinet  52  and the UAV  500  can be used to take photos or video up the cell tower  12  and of the cell site components  14 . The photos and video can be stored in any of the UAV  50 , the mobile device  100 , the cloud, etc. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV can also hover at the cell site  10  and provide real-time video footage back to the mobile device  100  or another location (for example, a Network Operations Center (NOC) or the like). 
     § 5.5 Compound Length/Width 
     The UAV  50  can be used to fly over the cell site  10  to measure the overall length and width of the cell site  10  compound from overhead photos. In one aspect, the UAV  50  can use GPS positioning to detect the length and width by flying over the cell site  10 . In another aspect, the UAV  50  can take overhead photos which can be processed to determine the associated length and width of the cell site  10 . 
     § 5.6 Data Capture—Cell Site Audit 
     The UAV  50  can be used to capture various pieces of data via the camera  86 . That is, with the UAV  50  and the mobile device  100 , the camera  86  is equivalent to the engineer/technician&#39;s own eyes, thereby eliminating the need for the engineer/technician to physically climb the tower. One important aspect of the cell site audit  40  is physically collecting various pieces of information—either to check records for consistency or to establish a record. For example, the data capture can include determining equipment module types, locations, connectivity, serial numbers, etc. from photos. The data capture can include determining physical dimensions from photos or from GPS such as the cell tower  12  height, width, depth, etc. The data capture can also include visual inspection of any aspect of the cell site  10 , cell tower  12 , cell site components  14 , etc. including, but not limited to, physical characteristics, mechanical connectivity, cable connectivity, and the like. 
     The data capture can also include checking the lighting rod  16  and the warning light  18  on the cell tower  12 . Also, with additional equipment on the UAV  50 , the UAV  50  can be configured to perform maintenance such as replacing the warning light  18 , etc. The data capture can also include checking maintenance status of the cell site components  14  visually as well as checking associated connection status. Another aspect of the cell site audit  40  can include checking structural integrity of the cell tower  12  and the cell site components  14  via photos from the UAV  50 . 
     § 5.7 Flying the UAV at the Cell Site 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be programmed to automatically fly to a location and remain there without requiring the operator to control the UAV  50  in real-time, at the cell site  10 . In this scenario, the UAV  50  can be stationary at a location in the air at the cell site  10 . Here, various functionality can be incorporated in the UAV  50  as described herein. Note, this aspect leverages the ability to fly the UAV  50  commercially based on the constraints described herein. That is, the UAV  50  can be used to fly around the cell tower  12 , to gather data associated with the cell site components  14  for the various sectors  54 ,  56 ,  58 . Also, the UAV  50  can be used to hover around the cell tower  12 , to provide additional functionality described as follows. 
     § 5.8 Video/Photo Capture—Cell Site 
     With the UAV  50  available to operate at the cell site  10 , the UAV  50  can also be used to capture video/photos while hovering. This application uses the UAV  50  as a mobile video camera to capture activity at or around the cell site  10  from the air. It can be used to document work at the cell site  10  or to investigate the cell site  10  responsive to problems, e.g. tower collapse. It can be used to take surveillance video of surrounding locations such as service roads leading to the cell site  10 , etc. 
     § 5.9 Wireless Service Via the UAV 
     Again, with the ability to fly at the cell site  10 , subject to the constraints, the UAV  50  can be used to provide temporary or even permanent wireless service at the cell site. This is performed with the addition of wireless service-related components to the UAV  50 . In the temporary mode, the UAV  50  can be used to provide service over a short time period, such as responding to an outage or other disaster affecting the cell site  10 . Here, an operator can cause the UAV  50  to fly where the cell site components  14  are and provide such service. The UAV  50  can be equipped with wireless antennas to provide cell service, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service, or the like. The UAV  50  can effectively operate as a temporary tower or small cell as needed. 
     In the permanent mode, the UAV  50  (along with other UAVs  50 ) can constantly be in the air at the cell site  10  providing wireless service. This can be done similar to the temporary mode, but over a longer time period. The UAV  50  can be replaced over a predetermined time to refuel or the like. The replacement can be another UAV  50 . The UAV  50  can effectively operate as a permanent tower or small cell as needed. 
     § 6.0 Flying the UAV from Cell Site to Another Cell Site 
     As described herein, the flight constraints include operating the UAV  50  vertically in a defined 3D rectangle at the cell site  10 . In another exemplary embodiment, the flight constraints can be expanded to allow the 3D rectangle at the cell site  10  as well as horizontal operation between adjacent cell sites  10 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , in an exemplary embodiment, a network diagram illustrates various cell sites  10   a - 10   e  deployed in a geographic region  300 . In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  is configured to operate as described herein, such as in  FIG. 2 , in the vertical 3D rectangular flight pattern, as well as in a horizontal flight pattern between adjacent cell sites  10 . Here, the UAV  50  is cleared to fly, without the commercial regulations, between the adjacent cell sites  10 . 
     In this manner, the UAV  50  can be used to perform the cell site audits  40  at multiple locations—note, the UAV  50  does not need to land and physically be transported to the adjacent cell sites  10 . Additionally, the fact that the FAA will allow exemptions to fly the UAV  50  at the cell site  10  and between adjacent cell sites  10  can create an interconnected mesh network of allowable flight paths for the UAV  50 . Here, the UAV  50  can be used for other purposes besides those related to the cell site  10 . That is, the UAV  50  can be flown in any application, independent of the cell sites  10 , but without requiring FAA regulation. The applications can include, without limitation, a drone delivery network, a drone surveillance network, and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the UAV  50 , at the cell site  10   a , can be flown to any of the other cell sites  10   b - 10   e  along flight paths  302 . Due to the fact that cell sites  10  are numerous and diversely deployed in the geographic region  300 , an ability to fly the UAV  50  at the cell sites  10  and between adjacent cell sites  10  creates an opportunity to fly the UAV  50  across the geographic region  300 , for numerous applications. 
     § 7.0 UAV and Cell Towers 
     Additionally, the systems and methods describe herein contemplate practically any activity at the cell site  10  using the UAV  50  in lieu of a tower climb. This can include, without limitation, any tower audit work with the UAV  50 , any tower warranty work with the UAV  50 , any tower operational ready work with the UAV  50 , any tower construction with the UAV  50 , any tower decommissioning/deconstruction with the UAV  50 , any tower modifications with the UAV  50 , and the like. 
     § 8.0 Tethered UAV Systems and Methods 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in an exemplary embodiment, diagrams illustrate a cell site  10  for illustrating the UAV  50  and associated tethered UAV systems and methods. Specifically,  FIGS. 8 and 9  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but here, the UAV  50  is tethered at or near the cell site  10  via a connection  400 . The connection  400  can include a cable, a rope, a power cable, a communications cable, a fiber optic cable, etc., i.e., any connection with strength to constrain the UAV  50  to the cell site  10 . In an exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 8 , the connection  400  is tethered to the top of the cell tower  12 , such as at the cell site components  14  or at one of the alpha sector  54 , beta sector  56 , and gamma sector  58 . In another exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 8 , the connection  400  is tethered to the cell tower  12  itself, such as at any point between the base and the top of the cell tower  12 . In a further exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 8 , the connection  400  is tethered to the bottom of the cell site  10 , such as at the shelter or cabinet  52  or a base of the cell tower  12 . Specifically, in  FIG. 8 , the tethered configuration includes the connection  400  coupled to some part of the cell tower  12  or the like. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the tethered configuration includes the connection  400  coupled to something that is not part of the cell tower  12 , such as a connection point  401 , i.e., in  FIG. 9 , the UAV  50  is tethered at or near the cell site  10  and, in  FIG. 8 , the UAV  50  is tethered at the cell tower  12 . In various exemplary embodiments, the connection point  401  can include, without limitation, a stake, a pole, a weight, a fence, a communications device, a wireless radio, a building or other structure, or any other device or object at or near the cell site  12 . As described herein, the UAV  50  is in a tethered configuration where the UAV  50  is coupled at or near the cell site  10  via the connection  400 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be housed or located at or near the cell site  10 , connected via the connection  400 , and stored in housings  402 ,  404 , for example. The housings  402 ,  404  are shown for illustration purposes, and different locations are also contemplated. The housing  402  is on the cell tower  12 , and the housing  404  is at or part of the shelter or cabinet  52 . In operation, the UAV  50  is configured to selectively enter/exit the housing  402 ,  404 . The connection  400  can be tethered to or near the housing  402 ,  404 . The housing  402 ,  404  can include a door that selectively opens/closes. Alternatively, the housing  402 ,  404  includes an opening where the UAV  50  enters and exits. The housing  402 ,  404  can be used to store the UAV  50  while not in operation. 
     One unique aspect of the tethered configuration described herein, i.e., the UAV  50  with the connection  400 , is that the UAV  50  can now be viewed as an attached device to the cell site  10 , and not a free-flying drone. Advantageously, such a configuration can avoid airspace regulations or restrictions. Furthermore, with the connection  400  providing power and/or data connectivity, the UAV  50  contemplates extended periods of time for operation. 
     As costs decrease, it is feasible to deploy the UAV  50  with the connections  400  and optionally the housing  402 ,  404  at all cell sites  10 . The UAV  50  with the connection  400  contemplates implementing all of the same functionality described herein with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 . Specifically, the UAV  50  with the connection  400  can be used to perform the cell site audit  40  and the like as well as other features. Also, the UAV  50  with the connection  400  is ideal to act as a wireless access point for wireless service. Here, the connection  400  can provide data and/or power, and be used for 1) additional capacity as needed or 2) a protection antenna to support active components in the cell site components  14  that fail. The UAV  50  with the connection  400  can be used to support overflow capacity as well as needed, providing LTE, WLAN, WiMAX, or any other wireless connectivity. Alternatively, the UAV  50  can be used as an alternative service provider to provide wireless access at the cell site  10  without requiring antennas on the cell tower  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flowchart illustrates a method  500  with a tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site. The method  500  includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site while the UAV is tethered at or near the cell site via a connection, wherein flight of the UAV at or near the cell site is constrained based on the connection (step  502 ); and performing one or more functions via the UAV at or near the cell site while the UAV is flying tethered at or near the cell site (step  504 ). 
     The method  500  can further include transferring power and/or data to and from the UAV via the connection (step  506 ). The connection can include one or more of a cable, a rope, a power cable, a communications cable, and a fiber optic cable. The one or more functions can include functions related to a cell site audit. The one or more functions can include functions related to providing wireless service via the UAV at the cell site, wherein data and/or power is transferred between the UAV and the cell site to perform the wireless service. The one or more functions can include providing visual air traffic control via one or more cameras on the UAV. The method  500  can further include storing the UAV at the cell site in a housing while the UAV is not in use. The UAV can be configured to fly extended periods at the cell site utilizing power from the connection, where the extended periods are longer than if the UAV did not have power from the connection. The connection can be configured to constrain a flight path of the UAV at the cell site. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) associated with a cell site includes one or more rotors disposed to a body, wherein the body is tethered to the cell site via a connection; a camera associated with the body; wireless interfaces; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces and the camera; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: process commands to cause the one or more rotors to fly the UAV at the cell site while the UAV is tethered to the cell site via the connection, wherein flight of the UAV at the cell site is constrained based on the connection; and perform one or more functions via the UAV at the cell site while the UAV is flying tethered to the cell site, utilizing one or more of the camera and the wireless interfaces. 
     § 8.1 Tethered UAV Systems and Methods—Visual Air Traffic Control 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the tethered UAV  50  can be configured to provide visual air traffic control such as for other UAVs or drones. Here, various tethered UAVs  50  can be deployed across a geographic region at various cell sites  10  and each UAV  50  can have one or more cameras that can provide a 360 degree view around the cell site  10 . This configuration essentially creates a drone air traffic control system that could be monitored and controlled by Network Control Center (NOC). Specifically, the UAV  50  can be communicatively coupled to the NOC, such as via the connection  400 . The NOC can provide the video feeds of other drones to third parties (e.g., Amazon) and other drone users to comply with current FAA regulations that require eyes on drones at all times. 
     § 9.0 UAV Systems and Methods Using Robotic Arms or the Like 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in an exemplary embodiment, diagrams illustrate a cell site  10  for illustrating the UAV  50  and associated UAV systems and methods with robotic arms for performing operations associated with the cell site components  14 . Specifically,  FIGS. 11 and 12  is similar to  FIG. 2  (and  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), but here, the UAV  50  is equipped with one or more robotic arms  600  for carrying payload  602  and/or performing operations associated with the cell site components  14  on the cell tower  12 . Since the robotic arms  600  and the payload  602  add weight and complexity when maneuvering, the systems and methods include a connection  604  between the UAV  50  and the cell tower  12  which physically supports the UAV  50  at the cell site components  14 . In this manner, there are no counterbalance requirements for the UAV  50  for the robotic arms  600  and the payload  602 . In another exemplary embodiment, the connection  604  can also provide power to the UAV  50  in addition to physically supporting the UAV  50 . That is, the connection  604  is adapted to provide power to the UAV  50  when connected thereto. Specifically, the robotic arms  600  could require a large amount of power, which can come from a power source connected through the connection  604  to the UAV. In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50 , once physically connected to the connection  604 , can shut off the flight and local power components and operate the robotic arms  600  via power from the connection  604 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  with the robotic arms  600  can utilize the tethered configuration where the UAV  50  is coupled at or near the cell site  10  via the connection  400 . Here, the UAV  50  can use both the connection  400  for a tether and the connection  604  for physical support/stability when at the cell tower  12  where operations are needed. Here, the connection  400  can be configured to provide power to the UAV  50  as well. The UAV  50  can also fly up the connection  400  from the ground that supplies power and any other functions such as a video feed up or down. The tethered UAV  500  attaches itself to the cell tower  12  via the connection  604 , shuts off rotors, engages the robotic arms  600  and then does work, but in this case the power for those robotic arms  600  as well as the rotors comes from a power feed in the connection  400  that is going down to the ground. The UAV  50  also may or may not have a battery and it may or may not be used. 
     The UAV  50  with the robotic arms  600  is configured to fly up the cell tower  12 , with or without the payload  602 . For example, with the payload  602 , the UAV  50  can be used to bring components to the cell site components  14 , flying up the cell tower  12 . Without the payload  602 , the UAV  50  is flown to the top with the robotic arms  600  for performing operations on the cell tower  12  and the cell site components  14 . In both cases, the UAV  50  is configured to fly up the cell tower  12 , including using all of the constraints described herein. During flight, the UAV  50  with the robotic arms  600  and with or without the payload  602  does not have a counterbalance issue because the robotic arms  600  and the payload  602  are fixed, i.e., stationary. That is, the UAV  50  flies without movement of the robotic arms  600  or the payload  603  during the flight. 
     Once the UAV  50  reaches a desired location on the cell tower  12 , the UAV  50  is configured to physically connect via the connection  604  to the cell tower  12 , the cell site components  14 , or the like. Specifically, via the connection  604 , the UAV  50  is configured to be physically supported without the rotors  80  or the like operating. That is, via the connection  604 , the UAV  50  is physically supporting without flying, thereby eliminating the counterbalancing problems. Once the connection  604  is established and the UAV  50  flight components are disengaged, the robotic arms  600  and the payload  602  can be moved, manipulated, etc. without having balancing problems that have to be compensated by the flight components. This is because the connection  604  bears the weight of the UAV  50 , allowing any movement by the robotic arms  600  and/or the payload  602 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the connection  604  includes a grappling arm that extends from the UAV  50  and physically attaches to the cell tower  12 , such as a grappling hook or the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection  604  includes an arm located on the cell tower  12  that physically connects to a connection point in the UAV  50 . Of course, the systems and methods contemplate various connection techniques for the connection  604 . The connection  604  has to be strong enough to support the weight of the UAV  50 , the robotic arms  600 , and the payload  602 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can carry the payload  602  up the cell tower  12 . The payload  602  can include wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, RF equipment, combinations thereof, and the like. That is, the payload  602  can be anything associated with the cell site components  14 . With the robotic arms  600 , the UAV  500  can be used to perform operations associated with the payload  602 . The operations can include, without limitation, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts to structures or components, installing antennas, installing supports or braces, installing lighting rods, installing electronic or RF equipment, etc. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  does not include the payload  602  and instead uses the robotic arms  600  to perform operations on existing cell site components  14 . Here, the UAV  50  is flown up the cell site  12  and connected to the connection  604 . Once connected and the flight components disengaged, the UAV  50  can include manipulation of the robotic arms  600  to perform operations on the cell site components  14 . The operations can include, without limitation, manipulating cables, removing/tightening nuts/bolts to structures or components, adjusting antennas, adjusting lighting rods, replacing bulbs in lighting, opening/closing electronic or RF equipment, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flowchart illustrates a method  700  with a UAV with robotic arms at a cell site. The method  700  contemplates operation with the UAV  50  with the robotic arms  600  and optionally with the payload  602 . The method  700  includes causing the UAV to fly at or near the cell site, wherein the UAV includes one or more manipulable arms which are stationary during flight (step  702 ); physically connecting the UAV to a structure at the cell site and disengaging flight components associated with the UAV (step  704 ); and performing one or more functions via the one or more manipulable arms while the UAV is physically connected to the structure, wherein the one or more manipulable arms move while the UAV is physically connected to the structure (step  706 ). The method  700  can further include utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to provide payload to a cell tower at the cell site, wherein the payload is stationary in the one or more manipulable arms during flight (step  708 ). The payload can include any of wireless components, cables, nuts/bolts, antennas, supports, braces, lighting rods, lighting, electronics, and combinations thereof. The method  700  can further include utilizing the one or more manipulable arms to perform operations on a cell tower at the cell site (step  710 ). The operations can include any of installing wireless components, installing cables, installing nuts/bolts, installing antennas, installing supports, installing braces, installing lighting rods, installing lighting, installing electronics, and combinations thereof. The physically connecting can include extending a grappling arm from the UAV to attach to the structure. The physically connecting can include connecting the UAV to an arm extending from the structure which is connectable to the UAV. The physically connecting can be via a connection which bears weight of the UAV, enabling movement of the one or more manipulable arms without requiring counterbalancing of the UAV due to the movement while the UAV is in flight. 
     § 10.0 Cell Site Operations 
     There are generally two entities associated with cell sites—cell site owners and cell site operators. Generally, cell site owners can be viewed as real estate property owners and managers. Typical cell site owners may have a vast number of cell sites, such as tens of thousands, geographically dispersed. The cell site owners are generally responsible for the real estate, ingress and egress, structures on site, the cell tower itself, etc. Cell site operators generally include wireless service providers who generally lease space on the cell tower and in the structures for antennas and associated wireless backhaul equipment. There are other entities that may be associated with cell sites as well including engineering firms, installation contractors, and the like. All of these entities have a need for the various UAV-based systems and methods described herein. Specifically, cell site owners can use the systems and methods for real estate management functions, audit functions, etc. Cell site operators can use the systems and methods for equipment audits, troubleshooting, site engineering, etc. Of course, the systems and methods described herein can be provided by an engineering firm or the like contracted to any of the above entities or the like. The systems and methods described herein provide these entities time savings, increased safety, better accuracy, lower cost, and the like. 
     § 11.0 3D Modeling Systems and Methods with UAVs 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , in an exemplary embodiment, a diagram illustrates the cell site  10  and an associated launch configuration and flight for the UAV  50  to obtain photos for a 3D model of the cell site  10 . Again, the cell site  10 , the cell tower  12 , the cell site components  14 , etc. are as described herein. To develop a 3D model, the UAV  50  is configured to take various photos during flight, at different angles, orientations, heights, etc. to develop a 360 degree view. For post processing, it is important to accurately differentiate between different photos. In various exemplary embodiments, the systems and methods utilize accurate location tracking for each photo taken. It is important for accurate correlation between photos to enable construction of a 3D model from a plurality of 2D photos. The photos can all include multiple location identifiers (i.e., where the photo was taken from, height and exact location). In an exemplary embodiment, the photos can each include at least two distinct location identifiers, such as from GPS or GLONASS. GLONASS is a “GLObal NAvigation Satellite System” which is a space-based satellite navigation system operating in the radionavigation-satellite service and used by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. It provides an alternative to GPS and is the second alternative navigational system in operation with global coverage and of comparable precision. The location identifiers are tagged or embedded to each photo and indicative of the location of the UAV  50  where and when the photo was taken. These location identifiers are used with objects of interest identified in the photo during post processing to create the 3D model. 
     In fact, it was determined that location identifier accuracy is very important in the post processing for creating the 3D model. One such determination was that there are slight inaccuracies in the location identifiers when the UAV  50  is launched from a different location and/or orientation. Thus, to provide further accuracy for the location identifiers, each flight of the UAV  50  is constrained to land and depart from a same location and orientation. For example, future flights of the same cell site  10  or additional flights at the same time when the UAV  50  lands and, e.g., has a battery change. To ensure the same location and/or orientation in subsequent flights at the cell site  10 , a zone indicator  800  is set at the cell site  10 , such as on the ground via some marking (e.g., chalk, rope, white powder, etc.). Each flight at the cell site  10  for purposes of obtaining photos for 3D modeling is done using the zone indicator  800  to land and launch the UAV  50 . Based on operations, it was determined that using conventional UAVs  50 , the zone indicator  800  provides significant more accuracy in location identifier readings. Accordingly, the photos are accurately identified relative to one another and able to create an extremely accurate 3D model of all physical features of the cell site  10 . Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, all UAV  50  flights are from a same launch point and orientation to avoid calibration issues with any location identifier technique. The zone indicator  800  can also be marked on the 3D model for future flights at the cell site  10 . Thus, the use of the zone indicator  800  for the same launch location and orientation along with the multiple location indicators provide more precision in the coordinates for the UAV  50  to correlate the photos. 
     Note, in other exemplary embodiments, the zone indicator  800  may be omitted or the UAV  50  can launch from additional points, such that the data used for the 3D model is only based on a single flight. The zone indicator  800  is advantageous when data is collected over time or when there are landings in a flight. 
     Once the zone indicator  800  is established, the UAV  50  is placed therein in a specific orientation (orientation is arbitrary so long as the same orientation is continually maintained). The orientation refers to which way the UAV  50  is facing at launch and landing. Once the UAV  50  is in the zone indicator  800 , the UAV  50  can be flown up (denoted by line  802 ) the cell tower  12 . Note, the UAV  50  can use the aforementioned flight constraints to conform to FAA regulations or exemptions. Once at a certain height and certain distance from the cell tower  12  and the cell site components  14 , the UAV  50  can take a circular or 360 degree flight pattern about the cell tower  12 , including flying up as well as around the cell tower  12  (denoted by line  804 ). 
     During the flight, the UAV  50  is configured to take various photos of different aspects of the cell site  10  including the cell tower  12 , the cell site components  14 , as well as surrounding area. These photos are each tagged or embedded with multiple location identifiers. It has also been determined that the UAV  50  should be flown at a certain distance based on its camera capabilities to obtain the optimal photos, i.e., not too close or too far from objects of interest. The UAV  50  in a given flight can take hundreds or even thousands of photos, each with the appropriate location identifiers. For an accurate 3D model, at least hundreds of photos are required. The UAV  50  can be configured to automatically take pictures are given intervals during the flight and the flight can be a preprogrammed trajectory around the cell site  10 . Alternatively, the photos can be manually taken based on operator commands. Of course, a combination is also contemplated. In another exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can include preprocessing capabilities which monitor photos taken to determine a threshold after which enough photos have been taken to accurately construct the 3D model. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , in an exemplary embodiment, a satellite view illustrates an exemplary flight of the UAV  50  at the cell site  10 . Note, photos are taken at locations marked with circles in the satellite view. Note, the flight of the UAV  50  can be solely to construct the 3D model or as part of the cell site audit  40  described herein. Also note, the exemplary flight allows photos at different locations, angles, orientations, etc. such that the 3D model not only includes the cell tower  12 , but also the surrounding geography. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , in an exemplary embodiment, a side view illustrates an exemplary flight of the UAV  50  at the cell site  10 . Similar to  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16  shows circles in the side view at locations where photos were taken. Note, photos are taken at different elevations, orientations, angles, and locations. 
     The photos are stored locally in the UAV  50  and/or transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device, controller, server, etc. Once the flight is complete and the photos are provided to an external device from the UAV  50  (e.g., mobile device, controller, server, cloud service, or the like), post processing occurs to combine the photos or “stitch” them together to construct the 3D model. While described separately, the post processing could occur in the UAV  50  provided its computing power is capable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , in an exemplary embodiment, a logical diagram illustrates a portion of a cell tower  12  along with associated photos taken by the UAV  50  at different points relative thereto. Specifically, various 2D photos are logically shown at different locations relative to the cell tower  12  to illustrate the location identifiers and the stitching together of the photos. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , in an exemplary embodiment, a screen shot illustrates a Graphic User Interface (GUI) associated with post processing photos from the UAV  50 . Again, once the UAV  50  has completed taking photos of the cell site  10 , the photos are post processed to form a 3D model. The systems and methods contemplate any software program capable of performing photogrammetry. In the example of  FIG. 18 , there are 128 total photos. The post processing includes identifying visible points across the multiple points, i.e., objects of interest. For example, the objects of interest can be any of the cell site components  14 , such as antennas. The post processing identifies the same object of interest across different photos, with their corresponding location identifiers, and builds a 3D model based on multiple 2D photos. 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , in an exemplary embodiment, a screen shot illustrates a 3D model constructed from a plurality of 2D photos taken from the UAV  50  as described herein. Note, the 3D model can be displayed on a computer or another type of processing device, such as via an application, a Web browser, or the like. The 3D model supports zoom, pan, tilt, etc. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20-25 , in various exemplary embodiments, various screen shots illustrate GUIs associated with a 3D model of a cell site based on photos taken from the UAV  50  as described herein.  FIG. 20  is a GUI illustrating an exemplary measurement of an object, i.e., the cell tower  12 , in the 3D model. Specifically, using a point and click operation, one can click on two points such as the top and bottom of the cell tower and the 3D model can provide a measurement, e.g. 175′ in this example.  FIG. 21  illustrates a close up view of a cell site component  14  such as an antenna and a similar measurement made thereon using point and click, e.g. 4.55′ in this example.  FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate an aerial view in the 3D model showing surrounding geography around the cell site  10 . From these views, the cell tower  12  is illustrated with the surrounding environment including the structures, access road, fall line, etc. Specifically, the 3D model can assist in determining a fall line which is anywhere in the surroundings of the cell site  10  where the cell tower  12  may fall. Appropriate considerations can be made based thereon. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  illustrate the 3D model and associated photos on the right side. One useful aspect of the 3D model GUI is an ability to click anywhere on the 3D model and bring up corresponding 2D photos. Here, an operator can click anywhere and bring up full sized photos of the area. Thus, with the systems and methods described herein, the 3D model can measure and map the cell site  10  and surrounding geography along with the cell tower  12 , the cell site components  14 , etc. to form a comprehensive 3D model. There are various uses of the 3D model to perform cell site audits including checking tower grounding; sizing and placement of antennas, piping, and other cell site components  14 ; providing engineering drawings; determining characteristics such as antenna azimuths; and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 26 , in an exemplary embodiment, a photo illustrates the UAV  50  in flight at the top of a cell tower  12 . As described herein, it was determined that the optimum distance to photograph the cell site components  14  is about 10′ to 40′ distance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 27 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flowchart illustrates a process  850  for modeling a cell site with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The process  850  includes causing the UAV to fly a given flight path about a cell tower at the cell site, wherein a launch location and launch orientation is defined for the UAV to take off and land at the cell site such that each flight at the cell site has the same launch location and launch orientation (step  852 ); obtaining a plurality of photographs of the cell site during about the flight plane, wherein each of the plurality of photographs is associated with one or more location identifiers (step  854 ); and, subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on the associated with one or more location identifiers and one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs (step  856 ). 
     The process  850  can further include landing the UAV at the launch location in the launch orientation; performing one or more operations on the UAV, such as changing a battery; and relaunching the UAV from the launch location in the launch orientation to obtain additional photographs. The one or more location identifiers can include at least two location identifiers including Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS). The flight plane can be constrained to an optimum distance from the cell tower. The plurality of photographs can be obtained automatically during the flight plan while concurrently performing a cell site audit of the cell site. The process  850  can further include providing a graphical user interface (GUI) of the 3D model; and using the GUI to perform a cell site audit. The process  850  can further include providing a graphical user interface (GUI) of the 3D model; and using the GUI to measure various components at the cell site. The process  850  can further include providing a graphical user interface (GUI) of the 3D model; and using the GUI to obtain photographs of the various components at the cell site. 
     § 11.1 3D Modeling Systems and Methods without UAVs 
     The above description explains 3D modeling and photo data capture using the UAV  50 . Additionally, the photo data capture can be through other means, including portable cameras, fixed cameras, heads up displays (HUD), head mounted cameras, and the like. That is, the systems and methods described herein contemplate the data capture through any available technique. The UAV  50  will be difficult to obtain photos inside the buildings, i.e., the shelter or cabinet  52 . Referring to  FIG. 28 , in an exemplary embodiment, a diagram illustrates an exemplary interior  900  of a building  902 , such as the shelter or cabinet  52 , at the cell site  10 . Generally, the building  902  houses equipment associated with the cell site  10  such as wireless RF terminals  910  (e.g., LTE terminals), wireless backhaul equipment  912 , power distribution  914 , and the like. Generally, wireless RF terminals  910  connect to the cell site components  14  for providing associated wireless service. The wireless backhaul equipment  912  includes networking equipment to bring the associated wireless service signals to a wireline network, such as via fiber optics or the like. The power distribution  914  provides power for all of the equipment such as from the grid as well as battery backup to enable operation in the event of power failures. Of course, additional equipment and functionality is contemplated in the interior  900 . 
     The terminals  910 , equipment  912 , and the power distribution  914  can be realized as rack or frame mounted hardware with cabling  916  and with associated modules  918 . The modules  918  can be pluggable modules which are selectively inserted in the hardware and each can include unique identifiers  920  such as barcodes, Quick Response (QR) codes, RF Identification (RFID), physical labeling, color coding, or the like. Each module  918  can be unique with a serial number, part number, and/or functional identifier. The modules  918  are configured as needed to provide the associated functionality of the cell site. 
     The systems and methods include, in addition to the aforementioned photo capture via the UAV  50 , photo data capture in the interior  900  for 3D modeling and for virtual site surveys. The photo data capture can be performed by a fixed, rotatable camera  930  located in the interior  900 . The camera  930  can be communicatively coupled to a Data Communication Network (DCN), such as through the wireless backhaul equipment  912  or the like. The camera  930  can be remotely controlled, such as by an engineer performing a site survey from his or her office. Other techniques of photo data capture can include an on-site technician taking photos with a camera and uploading them to a cloud service or the like. Again, the systems and methods contemplate any type of data capture. 
     Again, with a plurality of photos, e.g., hundreds, it is possible to utilize photogrammetry to create a 3D model of the interior  900  (as well as a 3D model of the exterior as described above). The 3D model is created using physical cues in the photos to identify objects of interest, such as the modules  918 , the unique identifiers  920 , or the like. Note, the location identifiers described relative to the UAV  50  are less effective in the interior  900  given the enclosed, interior space and the closer distances. 
     § 12.0 Virtual Site Survey 
     Referring to  FIG. 29 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flowchart illustrates a virtual site survey process  950  for the cell site  10 . The virtual site survey process  950  is associated with the cell site  10  and utilizes three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance, i.e., at an office as opposed to in the field. The virtual site survey process  950  includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site including a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof (step  952 ); subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs (step  954 ); and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof (step  956 ). The 3D model is a combination of an exterior of the cell site including the cell tower and associated cell site components thereon, geography local to the cell site, and the interiors of the one or more buildings at the cell site, and the 3D model can include detail at a module level in the interiors. 
     The remotely performing the site survey can include determining equipment location on the cell tower and in the interiors; measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling. The remotely performing the site survey can include planning for one or more of new equipment and changes to existing equipment at the cell site through drag and drop operations in the GUI, wherein the GUI comprises a library of equipment for the drag and drop operations; and, subsequent to the planning, providing a list of the one or more of the new equipment and the changes to the existing equipment based on the library, for implementation thereof. The remotely performing the site survey can include providing one or more of the photographs of an associated area of the 3D model responsive to an operation in the GUI. The virtual site survey process  950  can include rendering a texture map of the interiors responsive to an operation in the GUI. 
     The virtual site survey process  950  can include performing an inventory of equipment at the cell site including cell site components on the cell tower and networking equipment in the interiors, wherein the inventory from the 3D model uniquely identifies each of the equipment based on associated unique identifiers. The remotely performing the site survey can include providing an equipment visual in the GUI of a rack and all associated modules therein. The obtaining can include the UAV  50  obtaining the photographs on the cell tower and the obtaining comprises one or more of a fixed and portable camera obtaining the photographs in the interior. The obtaining can be performed by an on-site technician at the cell site and the site survey can be remotely performed. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus adapted to perform a virtual site survey of a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive, via the network interface, a plurality of photographs of a cell site including a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; process the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs, subsequent to receiving the photographs; and provide a Graphical User Interface of the 3D model for remote performance of a site survey of the cell site utilizing the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the steps of: receiving a plurality of photographs of a cell site including a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs, subsequent to receiving the photographs; and rendering a Graphical User Interface of the 3D model for remote performance of a site survey of the cell site utilizing the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof. 
     The virtual site survey can perform anything remotely that traditionally would have required on-site presence, including the various aspects of the cell site audit  40  described herein. The GUI of the 3D model can be used to check plumbing of coaxial cabling, connectivity of all cabling, automatic identification of cabling endpoints such as through unique identifiers detected on the cabling, and the like. The GUI can further be used to check power plant and batteries, power panels, physical hardware, grounding, heating and air conditioning, generators, safety equipment, and the like. 
     The 3D model can be utilized to automatically provide engineering drawings, such as responsive to the planning for new equipment or changes to existing equipment. Here, the GUI can have a library of equipment (e.g., approved equipment and vendor information can be periodically imported into the GUI). Normal drag and drop operations in the GUI can be used for equipment placement from the library. Also, the GUI system can include error checking, e.g., a particular piece of equipment is incompatible with placement or in violation of policies, and the like. 
     § 13.0 UAV Configuration for Wireless Testing 
     Referring to  FIG. 30 , in an exemplary embodiment, a block diagram illustrates functional components associated with the UAV  50  to support wireless coverage testing. Specifically, the UAV  50  can include a processing device  1000 , one or more wireless antennas  1002 , a GPS and/or GLONASS location device  1004 , one or more scanners  1006 , WIFI  1008 , and one or more mobile devices  1010 . The processing device  1000  can include a similar architecture as the mobile device  100  described herein and can generally be used for control of the UAV  50  as well as control of the wireless coverage testing. The one or more wireless antennas  1002  can be configured to operate at any operating band using any wireless protocol (GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, etc.). The one or more wireless antennas  1002  can be communicatively coupled to the processing device  1000  for control and measurement thereof. The location device  1004  is configured to denote a specific location of the UAV  50  at a specific time and can be communicatively coupled to the processing device  1000 . The location device  1004  can collect latitude and longitude of each point as well as elevation. With this location information, the processing device  1000  can correlate measurement data, time, speed, etc. with location. The location information can also be used to provide feedback for the correct route of the UAV  50 , during the wireless coverage testing and during general operation. 
     The one or more scanners  1006  are configured to collect measurement data in a broad manner, across the wireless network. The scanners  1006  can collected data that is not seen by the mobile devices  1010 . The WIFI  1008  can be used to collect wireless coverage data related to Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), such as based on IEEE 802.11 and variants thereof. Note, some cell sites  10  additionally provide WLAN coverage, such as for public access WIFI or for airplane WIFI access. Finally, the mobile devices  1010  are physical mobile phones or emulation thereof, and can be used to collect measurement data based on what a mobile device  1010  would see. 
     Thus, the processing device  1000  provides centralized control and management. The location device  1004  collects a specific data point—location at a specific time. Finally, the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , and the one or more mobile devices  1010  are measurement collection devices. Note, in various exemplary embodiments, the UAV  50  can include a combination of one or more of the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , i.e., a practical embodiment does not require all of these devices. 
     The UAV  50  body can be configured with the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , and the one or more mobile devices  1010  such that there is distance between these devices to avoid electromagnetic interference or distortion of the radiation pattern of each that can affect measurements. In an exemplary embodiment, the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , and the one or more mobile devices  1010  are positioned on the UAV  50  with a minimum spacing between each, such as about a foot. In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  is specifically designed to perform wireless coverage testing. For example, the UAV  50  can include a long bar underneath with the associated devices, the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , and the one or more mobile devices  1010 , disposed thereon with the minimum spacing. 
     § 13.1 Conventional Drive Testing 
     Referring to  FIG. 31 , in an exemplary embodiment, a map illustrates three cell towers  12  and associated coverage areas  1050 ,  1052 ,  1054  for describing conventional drive testing. Typically, for a cell site  10 , in rural locations, the coverage areas  1050 ,  1052 ,  1054  can be about 5 miles in radius whereas, in urban locations, the coverage areas  1050 ,  1052 ,  1054  can be about 0.5 to 2 miles in radius. For a conventional drive test, a vehicle drives a specific route  1056 . Of course, the route  1056  requires physical access, i.e., roads. Alternatively, the drive test can be walked. Of course, this conventional approach is inefficient and only provides measurements on the ground. 
     § 13.2 UAV-Based Wireless Coverage Testing 
     Referring to  FIG. 32 , in an exemplary embodiment, a 3D view illustrates a cell tower  12  with an associated coverage area  1060  in three dimensions—x, y, and z for illustrating UAV-based wireless coverage testing. The UAV  50 , with the configuration described in  FIG. 30 , can be flown about the coverage area  1060  taking measurements along the way on a route  1062 . Specifically, the coverage area  1060  also includes an elevation  1064 , i.e., the z-axis. The UAV  50  has the advantage over the conventional drive test in that it is not constrained to a specific route on the ground, but can fly anywhere about the coverage area  1060 . Also, the UAV  50  can obtain measurements much quicker as a UAV flight is significantly faster than driving. Further, the UAV  50  can also perform testing of adjacent cell towers  12  in a same flight, flying to different coverage areas. For example, the UAV  50  can also measure overlapping regions between cell sites  12  for handoffs, etc. Thus, the UAV  50  has significant advantages over the conventional drive testing. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the elevation  1064  can be up to 1000′ or up to 500′, providing coverage of areas at elevations the UAVs  50  intend to fly. In an exemplary embodiment, the route  1062  can include a circle about the cell tower  12 . In another exemplary embodiment, the route  1062  can include circles of varying elevations about the cell tower  12 . In a further exemplary embodiment, the route  1062  can include a path to cover the majority of the area within the coverage area  1060 , using an optimal flight path therein. The UAV  50  can perform the wireless coverage testing at any time of day—at night, for example, to measure activities related to system design or during the day to measure performance and maintenance with an active network. 
     The wireless coverage testing with the UAV  50  configuration in  FIG. 30  can perform various functions to measure: Signal intensity, Signal quality, Interference, Dropped calls, Blocked calls, Anomalous events, Call statistics, Service level statistics, Quality of Service (QoS) information, Handover information, Neighboring cell information, and the like. The wireless coverage testing can be used for network benchmarking, optimization and troubleshooting, and quality monitoring. 
     For benchmarking, sophisticated multi-channel tools can be used to measure several network technologies and service types simultaneously to very high accuracy, to provide directly comparable information regarding competitive strengths and weaknesses. Results from benchmarking activities, such a comparative coverage analysis or comparative data network speed analysis, are frequently used in marketing campaigns. Optimization and troubleshooting information is more typically used to aid in finding specific problems during the rollout phases of new networks or to observe specific problems reported by users during the operational phase of the network lifecycle. In this mode, the wireless testing data is used to diagnose the root cause of specific, typically localized, network issues such as dropped calls or missing neighbor cell assignments. 
     Service quality monitoring typically involves making test calls across the network to a fixed test unit to assess the relative quality of various services using Mean opinion score (MOS). Quality monitoring focuses on the end user experience of the service, and allows mobile network operators to react to what effectively subjective quality degradations by investigating the technical cause of the problem in time-correlated data collected during the drive test. Service quality monitoring is typically carried out in an automated fashion by the UAV  50 . 
     Once the UAV  50  starts the route  1062  and acquires location information, the wireless coverage testing process begins. Again, the UAV  50  can use two different location identifiers, e.g., GPS and GLONASS, to provide improved accuracy for the location. Also, the UAV  50  can perform subsequent tests from a same launch point and orientation as described herein. During the flight on the route  1062 , the UAV  50  obtains measurements from the various wireless measurement devices, i.e., the antennas  1002 , the one or more scanners  1006 , the WIFI  1008 , and the one or more mobile devices  1010 , and denotes such measurements with time and location identifiers. 
     The UAV  50  is configured based on the associated protocols and operating bands of the cell tower  12 . In an exemplary embodiment, the UAV  50  can be configured with two of the mobile devices  1010 . One mobile device  1010  can be configured with a test call during the duration of the flight, collecting measurements associated with the call during flight on the route  1062 . The other mobile device  1010  can be in a free or IDLE mode, collecting associated measurements during flight on the route  1062 . The mobile device  1010  making the call can perform short calls, such as 180 seconds to check if calls are established and successfully completed as well as long calls to check handovers between cell towers  12 . 
     Subsequent to the wireless coverage testing process, the collected measurement data can be analyzed and processed by various software tools. The software tools are configured to process the collected measurement data to provide reports and output files. Each post-processing software has its specific analysis, and as the collected measurement data is large, they can be of great help to solve very specific problems. These tools present the data in tables, maps and comparison charts that help in making decisions. 
     § 13.3 UAV-Based Wireless Coverage Testing—Aerial Results 
     The wireless coverage testing with the UAV  50  enables a new measurement—wireless coverage above the ground. As described herein, cell towers  12  can be used for control of UAVs  50 , using the wireless network. Accordingly, the wireless coverage testing is useful in identifying coverage gaps not only on the ground where users typically access the wireless network, but also in the sky, such as up to 500 or 1000′ where UAVs  50  will fly and need wireless coverage. 
     § 13.4 UAV-Based Wireless Coverage Testing Process 
     Referring to  FIG. 33 , in an exemplary embodiment, a flowchart illustrates a UAV-based wireless coverage testing process  1080 . The UAV-based wireless coverage testing process  1080  includes, with a UAV comprising a wireless coverage testing configuration, flying the UAV in a route in a wireless coverage area associated with a cell tower (step  1082 ); collecting measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flying and associating the collected measurement data with location identifiers (step  1084 ); and, subsequent to the flying, processing the collected measurement data with the location identifiers to provide an output detailing wireless coverage in the wireless coverage area including wireless coverage at ground level and above ground level to a set elevation (step  1086 ). The wireless coverage testing configuration can include one or more devices including any of wireless antennas, wireless scanners, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) antennas, and one or more mobile devices, communicatively coupled to a processing device, and each of the one or more devices disposed in or on the UAV. Each of the one or more devices can be positioned a minimum distance from one another to prevent interference, such as one foot. The UAV  50  can include a frame disposed thereto with the one or more devices attached thereto with a minimum distance from one another to prevent interference. The location identifiers can include at least two independent location identification techniques thereby improving accuracy thereof, such as GPS and GLONASS. Each subsequent of the flying steps for additional wireless coverage testing can be performed with the UAV taking off and landing at a same location and orientation at a cell site associated with the cell tower. The route can include a substantially circular pattern at a fixed elevation about the cell tower or a substantially circular pattern at a varying elevations about the cell tower. 
     The wireless coverage testing configuration can be configured to measure a plurality of Signal intensity, Signal quality, Interference, Dropped calls, Blocked calls, Anomalous events, Call statistics, Service level statistics, Quality of Service (QoS) information, Handover information, and Neighboring cell information. The route can include locations between handoffs with adjacent cell towers. The UAV-based process  1080  can further include, subsequent to the flying and prior to the processing, flying the UAV in a second route in a second wireless coverage area associated with a second cell tower; and collecting second measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flying the second route and associating the collected second measurement data with second location identifiers. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) adapted for wireless coverage testing includes one or more rotors disposed to a body; wireless interfaces; a wireless coverage testing configuration; a processor coupled to the wireless interfaces, the one or more rotors, and the wireless coverage testing configuration; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: cause the UAV to fly in a route in a wireless coverage area associated with a cell tower; collect measurement data via the wireless coverage testing configuration during the flight and associate the collected measurement data with location identifiers; and, subsequent to the flight, provide the collected measurement data with the location identifiers for processing to provide an output detailing wireless coverage in the wireless coverage area including wireless coverage at ground level and above ground level to a set elevation. 
     Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.