Nanjing Airfly Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Long-Endurance Tethered Surveillance Solution Fiber-Optic Controlled UAV for Persistent Monitoring in the Middle East   Quick Solution Overview This solution enables long-endurance aerial surveillance using a tethered drone system with continuous ground power supply and fiber-optic control.It supports visible-light and thermal imaging payloads, real-time HD video transmission with HDMI output, and stable hovering for extended monitoring missions in complex environments. Typical applications: persistent security monitoring, infrastructure surveillance, and critical-area observation in the Middle East. Market Challenge Long-duration aerial surveillance in the Middle East presents multiple operational challenges: l Extreme temperatures and harsh outdoor environments l Large-area monitoring requiring continuous hovering l Limited endurance of battery-powered UAVs l High risk of RF interference and unstable wireless links l Demand for simultaneous EO & thermal imaging with external monitoring displays Conventional drones are unable to maintain persistent operations without frequent landing, battery replacement, or signal degradation. Application Scenario The customer required a long-endurance UAV surveillance system with the following capabilities: l Continuous hovering for extended missions l Visible-light + thermal imaging payload l Stable, low-latency video transmission l Fiber-optic control to eliminate RF interference l HDMI output for external command-center displays l UAV payload capacity of 10 kg   Kitefly Tethered Surveillance Solution Kitefly Tethered delivered a fiber-optic tethered UAV solution combining continuous power delivery and secure data transmission through an integrated tether. The system architecture includes: l Tethered ground power station l High-voltage power & optical fiber integrated cable l Regulated airborne DC/DC power module l Industrial multi-rotor UAV platform l Optical fiber remote controller with HDMI video output This configuration enables persistent aerial monitoring without battery limitations or RF dependency.   Delivered Configuration (Key Technical Specifications) Tethered Ground Power Station – G30 l Input Voltage: AC 380 V l Output Voltage: DC 800–1000 V l Maximum Output Power: 14 kW l Tether Length: 150 m (with integrated optical fiber) l Operating Mode: Passive release / Active rewind Airborne Power Module – WF8 (Regulated) l Output Voltage: 50 / 60 V DC (12S / 14S) l Peak Power: 8,000 W l Weight: ≈ 2.2 kg UAV Platform l Recommended Payload: 10 kg l Payload Configuration: EO + Thermal imaging gimbal Control & Monitoring l Optical fiber remote control l Real-time HD video transmission l HDMI output for external display   Operational Outcome After deployment, the system achieved: n Stable long-duration hovering without battery replacement n Clear visible and thermal imagery for continuous monitoring n Zero RF interference due to fiber-optic control n Reliable HDMI video output for real-time command-center viewing n Reduced manpower requirements and operational interruptions This solution provides a reliable, scalable platform for persistent aerial surveillance in demanding environments. Full Technical Case Study Detailed System Architecture & Deployment Notes The following section provides a complete technical reference of the deployed system, including configuration logic and real delivery parameters. Long-Endurance Tethered Surveillance Solution for Middle East Operations   1. Market Background & Regional Challenges In the Middle East, long-duration aerial surveillance faces a unique combination of challenges: l Extreme climate conditions with high daytime temperatures and strong winds l Large-area monitoring requirements, often in open or semi-urban environments l Limited battery endurance for conventional UAVs during persistent surveillance missions l High risk of RF interference and signal instability, especially in sensitive or congested areas l Operational demand for real-time visual and thermal imaging, with external HDMI display for command centers For this project, the client required a stable, long-endurance aerial monitoring platform capable of continuous hovering, fiber-optic control, and simultaneous visible-light and thermal imaging, without revealing exact deployment locations.  Key pain point: Traditional battery-powered drones could not provide reliable, uninterrupted surveillance for extended periods without frequent landing, battery replacement, or signal degradation. 2. Customer & Application Scenario The customer operates in the security and infrastructure monitoring sector, focusing on long-endurance aerial surveillance. Mission requirements included: l Continuous hovering for extended periods l Dual payload operation: EO (visible) + thermal camera l Stable, low-latency video transmission l Optical fiber control to eliminate RF interference risks l HDMI output for real-time monitoring on external displays l UAV payload capacity of 10 kg The system needed to be deployable in the field, compatible with generators, and suitable for long-term monitoring missions without battery limitations.   3. Kitefly Tethered Solution Overview To meet these requirements, Kitefly Tethered delivered a fiber-optic tethered surveillance solution consisting of: System Architecture l Tethered Ground Power Station (G30) l Regulated Airborne DC/DC Power Module (WF8) l Industrial multi-rotor UAV (10 kg payload class) l All-in-one Optical Fiber Remote Controller l EO + Thermal Imaging Gimbal l External HDMI monitoring setup The system enables continuous power supply and real-time data transmission through a power + optical fiber integrated tether.   4. Key Technical Specifications (Delivered Configuration) The following configuration is extracted from the actual delivery and commercial invoice, ensuring Tethered Ground Power Station – G30 l Input Voltage: AC 380 V l Output Voltage: DC 800–1000 V l Maximum Output Power: 14 kW l Tether Length: 150 m (integrated optical fiber) l Operating Mode: Passive release / Active rewind l Maximum rewind speed: ≥ 2 m/s Airborne Power Module – WF8 (Regulated)  Input Vo

Tethered Power Solutions for Lightweight eVTOL Flight Testing Kitefly Tethered Technical White Paper Abstract The rapid advancement of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and the low-altitude economy has placed lightweight eVTOL aircraft at the center of global aviation innovation. Ensuring safe flight testing, long-duration hover capability, and propulsion-system validation remains a major challenge for developers. This white paper presents Kitefly Tethered’s high-voltage tethered power architecture—combining a ground high-power supply, high-strength HV cable, and onboard DC/DC regulation module—to enable controlled, continuous, and energy-stable eVTOL testing. Through a complete solution featuring the G40pro Ground Power System and WF24 Onboard Regulation Module, this document demonstrates how teams can perform extended hover tests, redundancy simulations, thrust verification, and flight-control tuning with enhanced safety and repeatability. The architecture offers high efficiency, reduced operating cost, and compatibility with next-generation lightweight eVTOL power platforms. 1. Background: UAM Development and eVTOL Testing Challenges Lightweight eVTOL aircraft face multiple constraints during early-stage development: l Limited endurance during hover l Incomplete propulsion-system reliability verification l Uncertain battery safety margins l Risk of loss-of-control events With test frequency increasing, R&D teams urgently need a solution that ensures: l Safe fixed-area testing l High-voltage, high-power endurance capability l Repeatable aerodynamic and flight-control experiments l Permission to conduct tests in urban or regulated airspace Tethered power systems have therefore become a crucial tool for eVTOL developers.   2. Role of Tethered Systems in Lightweight eVTOL R&D 2.1 Reducing Flight Risk in Early Development A tethered system restricts the aircraft’s altitude and radius, keeping it in a controlled test environment.Even in cases of: l Power interruption l Thrust instability l Flight-control anomalies …the aircraft cannot drift or escape the designated zone—dramatically improving safety. 2.2 Enabling Long-Duration Hover & High-Power Tests Traditional batteries limit test duration to just minutes.This restricts: l Motor efficiency curve mapping l Thrust-stability measurements l Redundant propulsion switching tests l Long-duration vibration/noise evaluation With tethered power providing tens of kilowatts of stable DC output, tests can run for hours, yielding far more reliable data. 2.3 Allowing Safe Testing in Urban or Restricted Areas Free-flight testing often requires strict regulatory approval. By contrast, tethered testing is more easily authorized, since altitude and flight envelope are constrained.This enables testing in: l Factory test halls l Airport R&D zones l Urban-edge industrial areas l Enclosed eVTOL proving grounds 3. Typical Application Scenarios 1. Motor endurance and peak-output testing 2. Aerodynamic, blade, and vibration research 3. Flight-control algorithm tuning 4. Redundant propulsion system switching 5. Emergency-condition simulation 6. Controlled testing in regulated low-altitude airspace Tethered systems ensure testing is safe, continuous, repeatable, and controlled. 4. Kitefly Tethered’s Lightweight eVTOL Testing Solution A recent overseas lightweight eVTOL R&D project required: l Extended hover testing l High-voltage 1000 V DC input l Secondary regulation to 14S (60V) onboard power bus l Continuous, uninterrupted endurance tests Kitefly Tethered supplied a dedicated test architecture.   4.1 Ground Power System — G40pro Designed for High-Power eVTOL Testing Input: 380 V AC (three-phase)Output: 1000 V DCPeak Power: 30 kW Key Capabilities l Stable HV output for direct-drive propulsion systems l 30 kW peak for hover, pitch change, and acceleration loads l Industrial-grade isolation for safety l Compatible with high-voltage tether cables for long-duration tests   4.2 Onboard Regulation Module — WF24 High-Voltage → 14S Power Bus Conversion Peak Power: 24 kWInput: 800–1000 V DCOutput: 60 V (14S) WF24 Enables l High-efficiency voltage conversion l Stable 24 kW output for heavy-load flight l Continuous power for motors & avionics l Zero voltage drop or fluctuation under high thrust   5. Advantages of Kitefly Tethered’s eVTOL Test Architecture l High SafetyEliminates risk of runaway flights. l High-Power CapabilitySupports long-duration, high-load propulsion tests. l Lower Operational CostNo battery swapping, no degradation cycles. l Highly Repeatable DataEnables controlled, repeatable test conditions. l Roadmap CompatibilityFully aligned with modern lightweight eVTOL power levels (800–1000V). This architecture forms a foundation for large-scale future validation. Keywords:tethered eVTOL testing, 1000V DC ground power, G40pro, WF24, eVTOL hover endurance, Urban Air Mobility testing, lightweight eVTOL development, tethered power supply system Request a Customized eVTOL Test Solution Our engineering team can tailor a tethered-power architecture for your propulsion voltage, motor system, and testing roadmap.Email: susy@tetheredsystem.comWebsite: www.tetheredsystem.com  

As wind turbine dimensions continue to grow, the likelihood of lightning strikes increases significantly. Lightning may damage turbine control systems, electrical components, blades, and generators. It is estimated that lightning accounts for 80% of all wind turbine insurance claims, while lightning-related failures represent 60% of all blade losses. On average, each wind turbine suffers lightning-induced blade damage once every 8.4 years.For a typical 20-year turbine lifespan, this corresponds to 2–3 blade-damage incidents caused by lightning. To understand why wind turbines are frequently “targeted” by lightning, three key factors must be clarified: 1. Height and environmental exposure:Modern wind turbine tip heights exceed 150 meters, and greater height increases the probability of lightning attachment. 2. Rotational motion:Blade tip speeds reach 80–100 m/s, and such high-speed rotation intensifies electric charge accumulation, increasing lightning attraction. 3. Blade material characteristics:Blades are typically built from fiberglass or carbon fiber, which have poor conductivity.When lightning strikes, the electrical current has no direct path unless a dedicated lightning conduction path is embedded.   For this reason, blades must contain an internal Lightning Protection System (LPS) consisting of lightning receptors, down-conductors, and grounding terminals. Receptors are placed at blade tips and leading edges where strikes most commonly occur. They provide a low-resistance path to safely channel lightning current through the tower and into the ground. Traditional inspection methods rely on manual suspended baskets or aerial lift trucks. Inspecting a single wind turbine typically requires over 5 hours, allowing only 1–2 turbines to be inspected per day. Technicians must operate in suspended baskets tens of meters to over 100 meters above ground—facing extreme fall risks.Additionally: l Operations depend heavily on weather conditions (especially wind). l Large specialized equipment (cranes, aerial lifts) are required, causing very high inspection costs. l Bad weather suspends inspections, leading to schedule delays and increased risk. The industry urgently needs a new inspection method that dramatically enhances efficiency, reduces safety risks, and ensures measurement accuracy.This is the context in which UAV-based intelligent inspection technology has emerged—a revolutionary solution for the wind power industry. 2. Overall Technical Concept: Intelligent, Contact-Based, High-Efficiency Inspection To overcome the limitations of traditional methods, the wind power industry is moving toward intelligent and safer technologies.This solution uses a UAV as an aerial inspection platform.   The system uses a UAV to carry a specially designed contact-type detection module that remotely touches the lightning receptor/blade tip to complete the electrical loop. l A retractable conductive copper-mesh assembly is installed on top of the UAV. l When the UAV reaches the measurement area, the operator controls it to make physical contact with the blade receptor/tip. l A detection cable is fixed to the copper mesh and is automatically reeled in/out by a tether winch. l The winch connects to a ground micro-ohmmeter to measure conduction and resistance. This achieves direct measurement of blade tip continuity and grounding resistance without human high-altitude operations.   3. Core Advantages and Technological Innovations: Redefining the Wind Turbine Inspection Standard 3.1 Revolutionary Efficiency Improvement The UAV solution dramatically improves inspection efficiency.Traditional suspended-basket inspections take over 5 hours for one turbine.The UAV solution completes a single blade tip measurement in under 3 minutes, improving efficiency by hundreds of times. A full wind farm can be inspected within a very short window, significantly reducing turbine downtime and improving energy output. 3.2 Enhanced Safety on All Fronts One of the greatest advantages is the elimination of high-altitude human operations.All work is performed on the ground—no lifting equipment, no personnel elevation. Additional safety features include: l The detection cable is secured through a ring-type attachment, preventing UAV propellers from contacting the cable. l The system operates in a wider range of weather conditions, expanding usable working time. 4. System Components and Functional Description 4.1 UAV Platform The system uses an industrial-grade UAV with strong wind resistance and stability.Recommended models include: l DJI M350 l DJI M400 4.2 Conductive Copper-Mesh Contact Detector The detector consists of an annular-rod structure with an internal metallic conductive mesh.The detection cable is fixed to the mesh.This design increases contact area and enhances contact reliability. 4.3 Ground Automatic Tether Winch & Measurement System The ground system includes: l Tether winch (automatic reeling), connecting to the UAV copper mesh l Micro-ohmmeter for real-time resistance measurement Together they form the complete detection loop. 5. Application Scenarios: Full-Lifecycle Wind Power Inspection Solution 5.1 Scheduled Inspection for Onshore Wind Farms Ideal for preventive maintenance before lightning seasons.The system quickly completes full-farm blade grounding measurements, reducing downtime and preventing lightning-induced blade failures. 5.2 Offshore Wind Farm Detection Traditional offshore inspections are extremely difficult and costly.The UAV system eliminates the need for vessels and aerial lifts, significantly reducing operational difficulty and risk. 5.3 Turbine Installation & Commissioning During turbine installation, the UAV system can directly verify LPS grounding resistance after the turbine is fully assembled—something conventional stage-by-stage methods cannot do. 5.4 Lightning Protection Fault Diagnosis After a lightning strike, the UAV system performs rapid diagnostics to confirm LPS integrity, locate faults, and guide repairs—minimizing turbine downtime.   6. Technical Support & Service Assurance 6.1 Professional Engineering Support We provide a dedicated team with strong wind-power and UAV application backgrounds.Services include solution design, equipment selection, and on-site technical support. 6.2 Continuous Technology Upgrades We continuously optimize system performance and expand functionalities based on evolving industry needs.Multiple related patents form a comprehensive technical protection system. Detailed Specifications Detection Tether Winch & Copper Mesh Assembly No. Item Specification Remarks 1 Model AF-JP-100 Default 100 m cable 2 Weight 2500 g ± 20 g Includes 100 m cable 3 Dimensions 210 × 190 × 170 mm L × W × H 5 Input Power 24 VDC Includes AC 220V → 24V DC converter 6 Current 2–3 A Customizable; fiber-optic pass-through optional 8 Working Mode Plug-and-play — 9 Torque Adjustable knob Max 66 N 10 Copper Mesh Model AF-TW — 11 Copper Mesh Weight 590 g ± 20 g — 12 Copper Mesh Size 320 × 320 × 53 mm Top diameter 320 mm; recessed mesh with internal damping; max retraction 70 mm 13 Connection Cable directly connected to metallic mesh surface — 14 Mounting Method Includes DJI M350 quick-release mounting plate + 4 pcs M3×10 screws Connects to DJI M350 — Note Device includes copper mesh only; no structural connectors included Users may trim column height or enlarge mesh diameter as needed