Project overview
Funding - £65,432
AETHER Tethered UAS developed from a consultancy project over two years (2013-15).
AETHER, was a low-cost persistent stare capable uncrewed aircraft system which was funded externally from Cardinal Security Ltd (£65,432).
AETHER was a self-contained, trailer mounted system, powered from the ground (240 V AC 1P to 480 V AC 3P) and therefore had unlimited endurance; unlike all other multi-rotor UAVs which have a maximum endurance of around 20 min. The system was the first tethered system in the UK to gain ‘Permission For Aerial Work’ (PFAW) from the CAA and has been extensively tested through flight trials. As a proof of concept demonstrator, AETHER has been flown for a number of potential clients, including various police forces.
A marine version of this was tested under an MoD contract with the Royal Navy, ideally to be operated off-shore on-board an unmanned surface vessel.
Get more information about Affordable persistent stare unmanned aircraft.
The ability to conduct persistent stare on a target is sought after by both military and civilian organisations. The current options are helium balloons (blimps), observation masts, free-flying multi-rotors and kites.
Each solution has its drawbacks in terms of physical size, height limitation, endurance and wind speed direction.
Technological advantages of AETHER;
- affordable system solution
- PTZ gimballed camera with video and thermal image capability (12:1 zoom)
- interchangeable pods for multitasking;
- laser, infrared CCTV, high-definition photography
- the only tethered UAV in the UK with CAA permission to conduct aerial work (<120 m)
- long-endurance tactical stare capability > 24 hours
- flown manually, semi-autonomously or autonomously
- failsafe technology built into the design
- self-contained trailer – totally mobile solution
