The Market for Tethered Drones: An Exponential Growth

The market for tethered drones is experiencing exponential growth as they become increasingly adopted across various commercial industries. Technological advancements in tethered UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have expanded their applications to include border patrol, live event streaming, setting up temporary communication towers, low-altitude satellite surveillance, and much more.

What Are Tethered Drones?

The commercial adoption of tethered drone technology began in earnest around 2016. Today, many defense analysts view this technology as essential for future operations.

A tethered drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle that is physically connected to a ground station. A typical tethered drone system includes a base station/power station, a drone tether, and the drone itself, which is connected to the power station through the tether.

Ground Power Station

Tethered drone stations can operate from remote or rugged environments while performing various tasks. Their core functions include:

• Providing power
• Converting power
• Facilitating communications between the UAV and the ground control station (GCS)
• Managing tether winch operations

Micro Tether

The tether connects the drone to a power station. It can be used to keep the drone in place or secure its hovering position. High-quality tethers are made of conductors, fiber optic cables, and BPL dual lines suited for dual-communication links.

Tethered drones are used for a variety of applications, primarily focusing on aerial observation and telecommunications. As a specialized type of professional unmanned drone, tethered UAVs excel in data capture, live video feed transmission, and telemetry due to the reliable cable links to the ground station. Additionally, tethered drones can hover at heights that make them comparable to regular drones.

Uses of Tethered Drones

To fully appreciate the uses of tethered drones, it’s essential to understand the limitations of their untethered counterparts.

Limitations of Untethered Drones

1. Flight Time: The average flight time for untethered drones is around 30 minutes, limiting their ability to perform continuous operations. In many professional settings, having to land the drone, swap its batteries, and redeploy it is impractical.
2. Safety: A predictable aerial presence is beneficial in dynamic situations such as festivals, natural emergencies, and crowd monitoring. However, despite their advanced technology, untethered drones can still have accidents. Tethered drones, by contrast, mitigate the risk of flyaways and potential injuries.
3. Ease of Use: Tethered drones are static, providing users with situational awareness at the push of a button. This ease of operation means that advanced drone flying skills are not necessary.

With these advantages in mind, it’s clear how tethered drones are suitable for various industries.

Tethered Drones in the Defense Industry

Drones have been used in military defense maneuvers since 1916, starting with radio-controlled monoplanes. Today’s advancements in military UAV technology have led to the development of tethered drones, which are particularly well-suited for border security and Forward Operating Base (FOB) protection. These drones can operate in various climates, monitoring perimeters and tracking enemy movements.

As military leaders recognize the strategic advantages of tethered drones for situational awareness and force protection, their use has become increasingly essential.

Categories of Military Reconnaissance Drones

1. Micro Drones: Capable of reconnaissance but limited by optical power and flight duration.
2. Short-Range Reconnaissance Drones: Preferred by squads and platoon-sized regiments for assessing enemy strength, location, and tactical weaknesses.
3. Mid-Range Reconnaissance Drones: Larger and equipped with more advanced payloads, these drones have better range and flight duration, making them ideal for border security and FOB protection.
4. Long-Range Reconnaissance Drones: Advanced systems like the Global Hawk can reach altitudes of over 60,000 feet and have flight durations of up to 32 hours.

Applications in Defense

1. Border Surveillance: Border security is challenging due to the geographical expanse, natural terrain, and political complexities. Porous borders can lead to security issues such as illegal trafficking and unchecked immigration. Tethered drones enhance the effectiveness of physical barriers like walls and fences by providing continuous surveillance.
2. FOB Protection: Defending forward operating bases requires significant manpower and resources. Tethered drones offer wide-range surveillance with high optical zoom capabilities, detecting threats from a distance and providing more time for soldiers to prepare for attacks. Their long endurance means they can overlap guard rotations, reducing the need for human guards.
3. Tactical Communications: Critical areas like borders, FOBs, and installations are vulnerable to attack if not properly manned. Modern technologies expose drones to hacking and counter-UAS systems. Tethered drones, however, are immune to cyberattacks due to their secure tethered communication links.

Tethered Drones for Private and Public Safety

Beyond defense, tethered drones are invaluable for securing public and private areas. Their minimal logistical footprint and ability to cover wide areas make them critical assets for security operators. Permanent aerial surveillance with immediate video feedback enhances situational awareness and facilitates effective interventions. They are used for event surveillance, perimeter security, and crowd monitoring.

Tethered Drones for Newsgathering

The media industry has embraced tethered drones for their ability to access previously unreachable areas and maintain extended flight times. Tethered drones can provide 4K aerial video streaming of large outdoor events like sports and concerts, offering new perspectives and enhancing safety.

Tethered Drones for Telecommunications

Tethered drones can establish temporary wide-area networks, propagating cellular, high-frequency radio, Wi-Fi, and 3G/4G signals. This capability is crucial in situations where traditional communication infrastructure is unavailable or compromised.

Tethered Drones for First Responders and Humanitarian Efforts

In emergency situations, tethered drones are vital for operations. They provide direct views of inaccessible areas affected by adverse weather conditions, helping responders identify real-time dangers and locate victims. This capability facilitates coordinated and effective responses. Tethered drones can be deployed for long durations, focusing on specific areas that require detailed analysis.

Benefits of Tethered Drone Systems

1. Autonomy: Tethered drones offer autonomous flight, allowing operators to concentrate on their observation missions rather than piloting the drone. They can operate up to 300 feet above ground level and are approved for use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
2. Flexible Legislation: Tethered drones often benefit from more flexible regulations compared to free-flying drones. In some countries, they are not classified as drones due to their stationary position while tethered, and users may not need to register them.
3. Limited Spatial Area: Operating within a restricted spatial area, tethered drones do not require trained pilots. GPS navigation is unnecessary, reducing the risk of crashes while covering wide areas.
4. Safe Data Transfer: Tethered drones maintain secure and uninterrupted communication links between the ground station and the aircraft, making them ideal for sensitive data transfers.
5. Deterrence: Tethered drones serve as an overt deterrence mechanism, providing reliable and visible surveillance in public areas, and enhancing safety.

Regulations for Tethered Drones

FAA Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration oversees all drone operations in the United States. Tethered drones are classified as commercial drones and must comply with the same regulations. It’s important to review each country’s airspace regulations to avoid penalties.

EASA Regulations

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency regulates drone operations in the EU. Tethered drones up to a mass of 25 kg or within a defined volume for lighter-than-air aircraft can operate in the ‘open’ category, outside ‘no-drone zones,’ below 120 meters above ground or water, or in designated areas notified to other airspace users.

Conclusion

The growing market for tethered drones is a testament to their versatility and reliability across various industries. From defense and public safety to newsgathering and telecommunications, tethered drones offer unparalleled advantages in terms of flight duration, safety, and ease of use. As regulations evolve to accommodate this technology, tethered drones are poised to play an increasingly integral role in both commercial and military applications.