The U.S. Army will evaluate a tethered six-rotor drone capable of streaming high-definition video from up to 400 feet above ground level for days at a time. The CyPhy Works’ Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) System is one of a new breed of small drones designed to provide “persistent” overhead security and surveillance capabilities.

CyPhy Works, based in Danvers, Mass., announced on July 18 that it has received an order for the PARC system from the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF). Established in 2002 as a quick-reaction capability, the REF works with Army units to “identify urgent capability gaps and provide non-standard equipment solutions.” The organization reports to the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command; it maintains a forward presence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

The PARC system consists of a ground control station and a hexrotor fitted with a gyro-stabilized electo-optical/infrared camera payload. The air vehicle is powered from the ground using CyPhy Works’ patented microfilament tether, which also supports “unbroken” high-definition video delivery and aircraft command and control.

The system was designed to meet military force protection and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissace (ISR) requirements in the field. It also has commercial applications for facility and event security, communications and overhead inspection.

“The REF procured a system to help assess possible solutions to a validated requirement we received from a deployed unit,” Lt. Col. Scott Schumacher stated in the announcement. “The intent is to assess and understand new technology in the realm of persistent, elevated ISR.”

Also in July, Drone Aviation Corp., of Jacksonville, Fla., unveiled its new “Bolt” tethered drone at the Warrior Expo East event in Virginia Beach, Va. A small coaxial-rotor helicopter, Bolt operates at altitudes of up to 800 feet and has a centerline universal payload bay that supports radio, signals intelligence and ISR packages up to 15 pounds and requiring as much as 1 kilowatt of power.

At the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Fla., in May, small unmanned aircraft systems manufacturer AeroVironment announced that the U.S. Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) was evaluating its “Tether Eye” system. Tether Eye is a quadcopter that deploys automatically from a self-contained base station and ascends up to 150 feet above its launch point to provide day and night imagery and full-motion video to a ground station.

“Having the ability to deploy a ‘virtual observation tower’ at a moment’s notice above buildings and vehicles represents a game-changing capability for ISR and security operations that has the potential to save lives,” stated Amanda Toman, CTTSO program manager. “We look forward to continuing our evaluation of Tether Eye’s capabilities with AeroVironment as a possible deployable capability across government facilities.”