{"id":91165,"date":"2026-10-05T15:14:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shop.dronebase.it\/?page_id=91165"},"modified":"2026-10-06T14:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:18:32","slug":"tethered-drone-systems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/shop.dronebase.it\/en\/tethered-drone-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Tethered drone systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n <\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n\n
\n
Tethered System \u00b7 Continuous power from the ground<\/div>\n

Tethered Systems for DJI drones<\/span><\/h1>\n

The drone stays airborne for as long as the mission needs, not for as long as the battery lasts.<\/h2>\n

\n A tethered system powers the drone from the ground through a micro-cable: flight sessions of 30\u201350 minutes become\n up to 12 hours of uninterrupted flight, and more than 24 hours on the FlyCart 30 configuration. Cables from 45 to 240 metres,\n IP54 protection on the high-end models, dedicated configurations for the DJI Enterprise range.\n <\/p>\n

\n \n <\/svg>\n Talk to an Expert\n <\/a>\n \n <\/svg>\n Request a Demo\n <\/a>\n 📞 +39 0541 1790411<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n DJI Super Gold Dealer<\/span>\n ISO 9001:2015<\/span>\n Available on MEPA (Italy)<\/span>\n DroneBase Academy<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
\n
up to<\/span>
12h<\/sub><\/div>
Continuous
uninterrupted flight<\/div><\/div>\n
over<\/span>
24h<\/sub><\/div>
With FlyCart 30
240 m cable<\/div><\/div>\n
cables from<\/span>
45\u2013240m<\/sub><\/div>
Catalogue
lengths<\/div><\/div>\n
protection<\/span>
IP54<\/div>
High-end
models<\/div><\/div>\n
up to<\/span>
120,000lm<\/sub><\/div>
1200 W LED floodlight
Matrice 400 config.<\/div><\/div>\n
 <\/span>
7<\/div>
Configurations
for DJI drones<\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n Figures refer to the configurations in the DroneBase catalogue. Actual endurance depends on the\n availability of ground power and on operating conditions.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n
\n
\n The problem<\/span>\n

On long missions the problem is not the drone. It is the battery.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\n A surveillance shift lasts eight hours. A concert lasts five. An emergency lasts as long as the\n emergency decides. The drone, however, lasts thirty or forty minutes.\n <\/p>\n

\n From there on the mission becomes a sequence of interruptions: landing, battery swap, take-off,\n repositioning. Every cycle is a gap in the monitoring, an opportunity for error and a piece of battery\n life consumed.\n <\/p>\n

\n A tethered system removes the constraint at its root:<\/strong> power reaches the drone from the ground through a micro-cable,\n and the aircraft stays on station for the entire operational shift.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n The hidden cost of battery swaps<\/span>\n

Three problems that only appear on long missions<\/h2>\n

On a twenty-minute flight none of these aspects is noticeable. On a twelve-hour watch they decide the outcome of the mission.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>\n

Monitoring is interrupted<\/h3>\n

Every battery swap is an interval in which nobody is watching. In perimeter surveillance, crowd management or at an incident scene that interval is precisely the one that matters: the event happens while the drone is on the ground.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
<\/svg><\/div>\n

Exposure to error increases<\/h3>\n

Dozens of landings and take-offs in one shift multiply the chances of a mistake: a wrong connection, a hot battery, a hurried restart under operational pressure. The safest procedure is the one that is never repeated.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
<\/svg><\/div>\n

Battery cycles are consumed<\/h3>\n

A full operating day on batteries burns through several cycles on packs with a significant unit cost. On intensive activity repeated throughout the year, the cost of replacements becomes a budget line comparable to the investment in a tethered system.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n
\n
\n System architecture<\/span>\n

What a tethered system is and how it works<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n

Definition<\/h3>\n

\n A tethered system (or tethered drone) is a continuous power supply system that connects the drone to a\n ground station through a micro-cable. The station converts mains or generator power and transmits it to the\n drone in flight, which no longer depends on its on-board battery. The result is a stationary aerial watch\n that can last an entire operational shift, with payloads, control and DJI platform unchanged.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n
\n

Three elements, no operator intervention<\/span><\/h3>\n

\n The tether adds no work for the operator: once started, cable management is automatic\n and the pilot keeps working in DJI Pilot as in a normal flight, with full access to the payloads.\n <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
    Ground station<\/strong>\n Rugged box with AC\/DC power supply, management electronics and motorised cable reel.\n It connects to the 220 V mains, to a generator or to a portable power station.<\/span><\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  2. \n
    Micro-cable tether<\/strong>\n A few millimetres in diameter, negligible weight for the drone, high-efficiency conductors\n and, in the versions that provide it, integrated optical fibre for data transmission.<\/span><\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  3. \n
    Drone in tethered configuration<\/strong>\n Dedicated power converter in place of or alongside the standard battery. Control,\n payloads and FlightHub 2 integration remain unchanged.<\/span><\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \"Tethered\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
    \n
    \n
    \n Operational comparison<\/span>\n

    What changes compared with battery flight<\/h2>\n

    The same drone, the same payloads, the same team. What changes is how the mission is planned and sustained.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    \n \n \n \n \n
    Aspect<\/th>\n Battery flight<\/th>\n Tethered flight<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
    Session duration<\/th>Tens of minutes per battery pack<\/td>Up to 12 continuous hours (over 24 h on FlyCart 30)<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Monitoring continuity<\/th>Interrupted at every battery swap<\/td>Coverage with no scheduled interruptions<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Real limit of the mission<\/th>Capacity and number of batteries available<\/td>Availability of ground power<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Battery cycle consumption<\/th>High on long operating days<\/td>Reduced: power from mains or generator<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Drone position<\/th>Free, with active pilot management<\/td>Anchored above the operating point<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Night lighting<\/th>Limited by the floodlight's extra consumption<\/td>Floodlights from 150 W up to 120,000 lumens, powered from the ground<\/td><\/tr>\n
    Typical missions<\/th>Survey, mapping, spot inspection<\/td>Surveillance, events, emergencies, night watch<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
    \n

    Not sure whether your scenario needs a tether or battery flight is enough? We assess it together in a 20-minute call.<\/p>\n

    \n Talk to an Expert<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
    \n
    \n
    \n Application scenarios<\/span>\n

    Where tethered drones are used<\/h2>\n

    Law enforcement, fire services, civil protection, event and critical-infrastructure operators, private security and search and rescue teams.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Surveillance of sensitive sites<\/h3>\n

    Continuous aerial coverage of airports, depots, refineries and energy infrastructure, with thermal camera and optical zoom.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Large events and public gatherings<\/h3>\n

    Concerts, festivals, sporting events and rallies: coverage of the whole area for the entire duration, with optional speaker and spotlight.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Emergencies and incident scenes<\/h3>\n

    Aerial view for the entire duration of the event: fires, floods, collapses, road accidents, with lighting and thermography.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Search and rescue<\/h3>\n

    Prolonged watch over the search area with thermal camera and floodlight, with no battery rotations interrupting the scan.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Long-duration patrols<\/h3>\n

    Night surveillance of woodland, coastline and perimeters: the drone stays on station for the whole shift.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Temporary radio relay<\/h3>\n

    With the FlyCart 30 configuration, restoring emergency communications when fixed infrastructure is out of service.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Construction sites and work at height<\/h3>\n

    Continuous monitoring of site activity, with the same platform used for periodic documentation.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n
    <\/svg><\/div>\n

    Extended fa\u00e7ade cleaning<\/h3>\n

    The basis of the Advanced Tethered Kit of the Drone Cleaning System<\/a>: full working days with no interruptions for battery swaps.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

    \n
    \n
    \n Catalogue configurations<\/span>\n

    A configuration for every DJI Enterprise drone<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \n Each system is designed for a specific drone, with a dedicated cable length. The choice is based\n on the required operating altitude plus a margin, on the average mission duration and on the power\n source available in the field.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    \n\n
    \n
    \n Cable 45 m<\/em><\/span>\n
    \n <\/svg>\n Product image\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
    \n Configuration 01<\/span>\n

    Tethered DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise<\/h3>\n

    The most compact system in the range: quick to transport and set up, for urban operations, short construction jobs and local events.<\/p>\n