Case-study note: This page documents a historical reference deployment. Exact customer and location details are intentionally withheld. The project data is used as an engineering reference for similar TethPower surveillance configurations, not as a claim that the new TethPower entity delivered the earlier project.
The Mission Requirement
The customer needed a surveillance aircraft that could remain above a defined area for extended periods while carrying both visible-light and thermal imaging. Battery-only endurance was a poor fit because repeated landings interrupted observation. The project also required a control/video path that would not rely on the normal wireless link for the primary mission data.
| Requirement | Reference project response |
|---|---|
| Long-duration hover | Continuous ground power through a high-voltage tether |
| Day/night imaging | EO + thermal imaging gimbal |
| Stable mission data path | Optical-fiber control and HD video transmission |
| External command display | HDMI output from the fiber-control system |
| Field deployment | Generator-compatible ground architecture |
| Payload class | 10 kg recommended payload in the delivered UAV configuration |
Reference surveillance UAV equipped with an EO/thermal payload.
Why Combine Power and Optical Fiber in the Tether?
Persistent surveillance has two separate continuity requirements: the aircraft needs energy and the command center needs a stable data path. The reference system combined high-voltage conductors and optical fiber in the tether so the main control/video path could be carried by cable while the aircraft received continuous ground power.
This reduces dependence on RF for the primary tethered control/video link. It should not be described as making the entire aircraft “immune to RF interference,” because other aircraft functions such as GNSS or backup links may still involve radio-frequency systems.
Reference power, optical-fiber control and command-display architecture.
Reference Delivered Configuration
G30 Tethered Ground Power Station
| Parameter | Reference Value |
|---|---|
| Input voltage | AC 380 V |
| Output voltage | DC 800-1000 V |
| Maximum output power | 14 kW |
| Tether length | 150 m with integrated optical fiber |
| Cable mode | Passive release / active rewind |
| Maximum rewind speed | ≥2 m/s in the source configuration |
Ground-system display during reference operation.
WF8 Regulated Airborne Power Module
| Parameter | Reference Value |
|---|---|
| Input voltage | 800-1000 V DC |
| Output voltage | 50 / 60 V DC (12S / 14S) |
| Peak power | 8,000 W |
| Weight | Approximately 2.2 kg |
UAV, Payload and Fiber Control
| Subsystem | Reference configuration |
|---|---|
| UAV | Industrial multirotor; maximum takeoff weight 28 kg in source material |
| Recommended mission payload | 10 kg |
| Imaging | EO + thermal gimbal |
| Control/video | Real-time HD transmission through optical fiber |
| Operator interface | Integrated telemetry display |
| External output | HDMI for command-center or external monitor |
| Communications behavior | Low-latency primary control/video path independent of the normal RF data link |
Field monitoring and fiber-control equipment during reference testing.
Operational Outcome Recorded in the Reference Project
Stable long-duration hovering without repeated battery replacement
Simultaneous visible and thermal imagery for day/night observation
Reliable HDMI video output for external command-center viewing
Primary control/video transmission through optical fiber rather than the normal RF link
Reduced operational interruption from battery changes and wireless-link management
Where This Architecture Is Useful
Persistent perimeter and site-security monitoring
Critical-infrastructure observation
Temporary event or incident command posts
Border, industrial or remote-area monitoring where a fixed elevated viewpoint is required
Locations where primary control/video should be carried by fiber because the RF environment is congested, sensitive or operationally undesirable
What Must Be Recalculated for a New Project
| Design input | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Required hover height | Sets tether length, cable mass and system voltage-drop budget. |
| Camera/payload mass | Determines remaining aircraft and airborne power margin. |
| Camera electrical load | Adds to propulsion/airborne converter demand. |
| Fiber interfaces | Defines converters, ports, protocol and command-center equipment. |
| HDMI / video workflow | Determines how the command center receives and displays the feed. |
| Ambient temperature / altitude | Affects converter cooling and aircraft performance. |
| Ground source | Grid vs generator capacity and field logistics. |
| RF-independent scope | Clarify which links must be fiber and which functions may still use RF/GNSS. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the system use fiber for both control and video?
The reference project used optical fiber for the primary remote-control/data path and real-time HD video, with HDMI output to an external display.
Does fiber-optic control mean there is zero RF interference anywhere on the aircraft?
No. It means the primary control/video path can avoid dependence on the normal RF data link. Other aircraft functions may still use GNSS, backup radios or other RF systems.
How long is the reference tether?
150 m, with optical fiber integrated into the tether.
What payload did the project require?
The delivered UAV configuration used a 10 kg recommended payload class and carried EO + thermal imaging.
Can the ground station run from a generator?
The reference deployment was designed for field use and generator compatibility, provided the generator meets the ground unit input and power-quality requirements.
What information is required for a new surveillance proposal?
Target height, aircraft/payload mass, camera model and electrical load, required control/video interfaces, fiber protocol, HDMI/output needs, environmental conditions and available AC/generator source.
Talk to TethPower About Your Configuration
For a persistent-surveillance project, send the target hover height, UAV/payload weight, EO/IR camera interfaces, control/video protocol, required fiber path and available ground source. TethPower can size the power and data architecture together.