Heavy-lift Tethered Aerial Vehicle (TAV) manufacturer Zenith AeroTech has completed delivery of two Quad 8 TAVs to a Federal law enforcement agency for use as a command overwatch solution during emergency response missions.
Each Quad 8 can lift up to 20 pounds of payloads, easily meeting the customer’s need for a long-endurance unmanned aerial platform that could carry Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) video cameras, a communications relay system, and overhead, high-intensity light panels – all at the same time.
“The client wanted an overwatch capability to help secure their area of operations during emergency response efforts,” said Kutlay Kaya, chairman of Zenith AeroTech. “And unlike regular, untethered drones, our TAVs can stay in the air for days at a time while carrying a variety of payloads.”
According to Zenith, the Quad 8 has more than enough capacity to carry a long-range EO/IR camera, a communications relay, and two 17,000-lumen, weather-resistant LED panels.
“These high-powered lights are ground-controlled for intensity and on/off functions,” said Doganc Kucuk, lead designer for Zenith AeroTech. “And when they are activated, it becomes like daytime on the ground.”
Hovering at altitudes of 200 to 400 feet, the Quad 8 TAV draws its power from the Ground Power Unit (GPU), which converts AC voltage into high-voltage DC power for the TAV and its payloads. The GPU also runs an automated management system designed to operate even under inclement weather conditions.
“This smart tether system allows the operator to focus completely on the mission, which at the end of the day, is the most important thing,” Kaya said.
Find suppliers & manufacturers of Law Enforcement Drones & UAS >>
The post Zenith AeroTech Tethered Drones Aid Emergency Response Missions appeared first on Unmanned Systems Technology.