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The US Army has patented a groundbreaking technology aimed at extending the flight duration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Developed by the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland, this innovative drone tethering system allows for mid-air recharging, potentially enabling drones to remain airborne indefinitely.
The concept is similar to mid-air refueling for jets, where a top drone deploys a powered tether that connects to one or more drones, allowing them to recharge during flight. According to the patent, the system incorporates various mechanisms to facilitate the connection and disconnection of drones in mid-air. The lead drone carries a specialized rope that extends from a base station supplying power, enabling one or more drones to connect for charging before detaching to carry out independent missions.
Tethered drones, which are connected to a cable that is anchored to the ground, can conduct long-duration surveillance as they receive continuous power from the tether. The Army’s system allows a connected drone to receive power through a docking point connection, which can be adjusted along the tether’s length. This setup features multiple docking points, enabling drones to move and reconnect as needed. The technology includes several coupling and decoupling mechanisms, allowing for efficient deployment and recharging of drones mid-flight, according to Interesting Engineering. Each docking point has power input connectors that establish an electrical connection to the drones, utilizing magnetic components to enhance connectivity. This advancement addresses the critical issue in electric aviation which is battery life. Additionally. using multiple UAVs on a shared tether offers numerous advantages, including continuous surveillance from various angles, navigation through complex environments, and improved concealment of the ground station’s location.
With the military’s growing interest in extending UAV flight durations could prompt companies to develop an integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solution that combines tethered drones with other solutions, further enhancing operational capabilities.
