Microfilament cable keeps UAV aloft inefinitely (w/video)

(Nanowerk News) CyPhy Works, an innovative new robotics company, this week unveiled two revolutionary small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs): EASE and PARC.
The Extreme Access System for Entry (EASE) is an indoor flying UAV to help police, soldiers, and inspectors remain at safe standoff distances. EASE boasts the long endurance, GPS denied navigation, and portability needed to act as a forward remote presence for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) reconnaissance, building interior reconnaissance, hostage situations, and search and rescue. EASE will also be used for bridge and building inspection to help keep our population safer.
The Extreme Access System for Entry (EASE) is a small UAS created by CyPhy Works, Inc. This test was conducted at the McKenna MOUT Site at Ft. Benning, GA.
The Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) is designed to fly vertically and remain hovering for unprecedented long durations without operator intervention. PARC provides Situational Awareness (SA) through its imaging payload and extends the range of radios on the ground with a communications relay payload. Needing little deployment infrastructure, it provides SA in austere locations where the need is the greatest but infrastructure is least established such as Combat Outposts.
Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) system
The microfilament system carries power and Ethernet communication between the Ground Control Station and PARC vehicle.
Both EASE and PARC make use of a proprietary “microfilament” technology that transmits power, Ethernet protocol communications, and HD video. “The microfilament bears a resemblance to the effective use of tethers on Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs), said Helen Greiner, CEO and Founder of CyPhy Works, “But to be able to achieve a useful altitude or traverse useful distances, we had to engineer a completely new type of tether for the air domain, we call this a microfilament.”
This breakthrough microfilament eliminates common UAV pitfalls such as:
  • Jamming (intentional noise to disrupt IED detonation signals and enemy comms)
  • Spoofing (enemy hijacking the UAV to destroy it or use it against our forces)
  • Interception (ISR information from UAV is intercepted and used by the enemy)
  • Detection (enemy detects UAV RF link which gives away our position)
  • Source: CyPhy Works