Design of a Complex Tethering System: A prototype of an expandable drone tethering system

Abstract

The dissertation aims to explore a new approach to extend the mission length and expand the flexibility of drone applications for indoor environments where a GPS or GNSS signal is not available. The research addresses the need for enhanced power management and coordinated control in multi-drone systems. A tethering system is created as a prototype to enable simultaneous power distribution and dynamic positioning. Experimental testing was conducted in a controlled lab environment using a linked customized quadcopter and an indoor positioning system. The system demonstrated a complex tethering system with longer durability, higher flexibility, and higher modularity. The prototype provides a foundation for future deployment in a variety of areas including persistent surveillance, emergency communication, indoor manufacturing, and so on. Future work is expected to focus on improving control accuracy and system stability.