An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for controlling and
managing a small unmanned air vehicle (UAV) between capture and launch of
the UAV. The system includes an enclosure that provides environmental
protection and isolation for multiple small UAVs in assembled and/or
partially disassembled states. Control and management of the UAVs
includes reorientation of a captured UAV from a landing platform and
secure hand-off to the enclosure, decontamination, de-fueling, ingress to
the enclosure, downloading of mission payload, UAV disassembly, stowage,
retrieval and reassembly of the UAV, mission uploading, egress of the UAV
from the enclosure, fueling, engine testing and launch readiness. An
exemplary system includes two or more robots controlled by a multiple
robot controller for autonomously carrying out the functions described
above. A modular, compact, portable and autonomous system of UAV control
and management is described.