High-altitude tethered cable-powered drones: Electric power analysis

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of electric power supply to high-altitude tethered drones powered via cable from the ground. Tethered drones offer important advantages including prolonged flight duration, secure high-rate data transfer, and the capability to serve as airborne launch platforms for secondary fiber-optic drones. We investigated the key electrical constraints associated with powering such systems, including cable geometry under tension, minimum required supply voltage, and optimal conductor cross-section to minimize total power consumption. The cable mechanical strength is also considered. Results indicate that altitudes and horizontal displacements above 1000 m are feasible with a 2–3 kV power source, with the total power requirement estimated at approximately 0.4 kW per 1 kg of the drone weight. The derived expressions are intended to support the design and optimization of high-altitude tethered UAV platforms.