Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRTR20250704004
- Term of Validity
- 4 July 2025 - 4 July 2026
- Company's Country
- Turkey
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- Greece
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General information
- Short Summary
- We are developing an innovative tethered drone system with a smart torque-controlled reel, enabling drones to operate continuously for 24–36 hours for rapid communication restoration, industrial site monitoring, and disaster resilience. Our solution combines durable hardware and digital process innovation to support critical infrastructure and industrial operations during emergencies when conventional mobile systems cannot be deployed.
- Full Description
-
Our project focuses on designing and developing an advanced tethered drone system equipped with a smart torque-controlled tether station. This system addresses the critical need for immediate, stable communication networks and real-time site monitoring during natural or man-made disasters when ground-based infrastructure is inaccessible or damaged.
The solution consists of three main components:
• A heavy-lift drone platform capable of carrying communication modules (LTE/5G/Wi-Fi) and high-resolution cameras for surveillance.
• An innovative tether station with an automatic cable reel, servo motor with precise torque control, and a durable worm shaft system. This design ensures the drone remains safely connected with uninterrupted power and data transfer, maintaining stable operation at up to 90 meters altitude for extended durations (24–36 hours).
• A digital monitoring and control unit, which automates cable management based on drone altitude and tension feedback, minimizing risk of cable entanglement and ensuring safe operations in harsh conditions.
This integrated solution can act as a temporary mobile base station, data relay node, or surveillance system. Its applications include:
• Disaster response: Restoring connectivity in earthquake zones within the critical first 36 hours when mobile vehicles cannot access the area.
• Industrial resilience: Providing communication and visual monitoring for critical infrastructure, construction sites, or energy facilities during emergencies.
• Protection of cultural heritage: Enabling remote assessment and safeguarding of vulnerable sites immediately after natural hazards.
Our system contributes to the Materials / Constructions / Industry theme by developing an innovative equipment and process solution that combines advanced hardware and digital automation. It also aligns with the Circular Economy aspect of resilience and rapid response to disasters impacting physical and socio-technical systems.
We are currently finalizing our lab-tested prototype and preparing for field demonstrations with municipalities and telecommunication partners. The project leverages national and international partnerships to customize the system for diverse terrain and regulatory contexts. Our goal is to bring an adaptable, cost-effective, and modular solution to market that supports industry, civil protection, and local authorities in building disaster resilience and operational continuity. - Advantages and Innovations
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Our tethered drone system stands out for its combination of extended endurance, smart torque control, and modular design. Unlike conventional drones limited by battery life, our system provides continuous flight for 24–36 hours with uninterrupted power and data transfer. The servo motor with torque feedback intelligently adjusts the tether cable in real time, ensuring safety and stability in windy or harsh conditions. The automated tether management eliminates manual intervention, reducing risks of operational errors and mechanical failures. This unique approach supports industrial applications by delivering an innovative process and equipment solution, improving efficiency and safety for emergency communications, infrastructure monitoring, and cultural heritage protection.
Our solution is highly portable, deployable within minutes, and adaptable to multiple use cases from industrial sites to disaster areas. By integrating real-time surveillance with advanced communication modules, it bridges gaps left by damaged ground infrastructure, offering communities and industries a reliable, flexible, and future-ready tool for resilience. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
We seek a partner who can co-develop and validate the system within real-world industrial or disaster-response scenarios. The ideal partner would:
• Bring expertise in advanced materials, industrial equipment manufacturing, or digital process integration, helping us optimize the tether station and cable system for durability, safety, and ease of deployment.
• Be a drone company or UAV systems developer that can contribute flight platform expertise, help integrate the tether station with existing drone designs, and optimize flight performance under tethered conditions
• Support field testing in relevant environments (urban, rural, or coastal areas vulnerable to natural hazards).
• Contribute technical input for integrating new telecommunication modules, such as LTE/5G equipment or satellite internet solutions, tailored to cross-border operational requirements.
• Collaborate on adapting the system for specific use cases, such as protecting cultural heritage sites or providing mobile coverage during temporary events.
• Jointly develop market entry strategies for both Türkiye and Greece, including local regulatory alignment, user training, and demonstration pilots.
In return, we will share our mechanical, electronics, and digital control designs for the tether station, contribute our existing test data, and co-create any further technological improvements required. Our goal is to establish a strong, balanced partnership where each side leverages its expertise to deliver an innovative, scalable, and export-ready product that addresses the pressing need for resilient, flexible, and safe emergency communication and monitoring systems. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
- We have initiated the patent application process for our key innovations, including the torque-controlled automatic reel system and the integrated tether station design. The patent application was started 3 months ago and is currently under national examination, with plans to extend the protection under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) once our prototype performance data is fully finalized and demonstrated.
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
We seek a partner who can co-develop and validate the system within real-world industrial or disaster-response scenarios. The ideal partner would:
• Bring expertise in advanced materials, industrial equipment manufacturing, or digital process integration, helping us optimize the tether station and cable system for durability, safety, and ease of deployment.
• Be a drone company or UAV systems developer that can contribute flight platform expertise, help integrate the tether station with existing drone designs, and optimize flight performance under tethered conditions
• Support field testing in relevant environments (urban, rural, or coastal areas vulnerable to natural hazards).
• Contribute technical input for integrating new telecommunication modules, such as LTE/5G equipment or satellite internet solutions, tailored to cross-border operational requirements.
• Collaborate on adapting the system for specific use cases, such as protecting cultural heritage sites or providing mobile coverage during temporary events.
• Jointly develop market entry strategies for both Türkiye and Greece, including local regulatory alignment, user training, and demonstration pilots.
In return, we will share our mechanical, electronics, and digital control designs for the tether station, contribute our existing test data, and co-create any further technological improvements required. Our goal is to establish a strong, balanced partnership where each side leverages its expertise to deliver an innovative, scalable, and export-ready product that addresses the pressing need for resilient, flexible, and safe emergency communication and monitoring systems. - Type and Size of Partner
- R&D Institution
- SME <=10
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- University
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Access to finance
- Call title and identifier
-
TÜBİTAK-GSRI 2025 Turkiye-Greece Bilateral Call
- Submission and evaluation scheme
-
This is a one stage call
- Coordinator required
-
No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Project duration in weeks
-
156
- Web link to the call
- https://tubitak.gov.tr/en/announcement/2520-tubitak-general-secretariat-research-and-innovation-greece-gsri-bilateral-cooperation-call-open-application
- Project title and acronym
-
Innovative Tethered Drone System for Emergency Communication, Infrastructure Resilience, and Industrial Monitoring with Automated Torque-Controlled Tether Station
- Access to finance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01001001 - Automation, Robotics Control Systems
- Market keywords
- 08002004 - Robotics
- 03008004 - Other electronics related (including alarm systems)
- Sector Groups Involved
- Electronics
- Aerospace and Defence
- Mobility - Transport - Automotive
- Digital
- Targeted countries
- Greece