Swiss mapping drone developer Flyability recently announced their new Elios 3 Tether Power Unit, a new ground power system that delivers continuous power for uninterrupted inspections. The Tether Power Unit connects to a wall outlet, generator, or compatible portable power station, converting 100–240 V AC into high-voltage DC. Power is transmitted through a 50 m (164 ft) reinforced cable with a tensile strength of 110 lbs or 50 kg.
Proven Platform
Building on the user-friendly and collision-tolerant Elios 3, the Tethered Power Unit includes:
- A quick-swap air unit for seamless tether-to-battery transition
- Tension-decoupling swivel to eliminate cable stress and preserve flight stability
- Integrated backup battery for safe landings in case of unexpected power loss from the energy source
- Full compatibility with existing Elios 3 payloads
“Power tethering is highly complementary to flying with a battery to maximize the efficiency of our customers’ inspection, surveying, and monitoring operations,” explains Patrick Thévoz, CEO and co-founder of Flyability. “Following the launches of our new high-capacity battery and Smart Return-to-Home, the tether power unit reflects our focus on making inspections effortless, so our users can concentrate on gathering data over flying the drone, and in an increasingly autonomous way.”
The Tethered Module will be on display at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas from September 2nd to 4th, and at GasTech in Milan from the 9 to 12th. Flyability will also be hosting a series of DroneDays in Chile and Australia in late 2025, which will showcase the new technology across a range of scenarios. Live demos of the tether are available upon request.
More information on Flyability and the new tethered Elios 3 is available here.
About Flyability:
Flyability, a Swiss drone manufacturer, is focused on eliminating the need for humans to undertake dangerous jobs. Their advanced drones and software solutions enable safer, faster, and more cost-effective inspections across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, chemical, cement, mining, water and wastewater, and nuclear. Headquartered in Paudex, Lausanne, Flyability also has offices in China, Singapore, and the USA. For press inquiries, please contact: Eloise McMinn Mitchell, Vertical Marketing Manager at Flyability
Contact: [email protected]
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Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
