
STEM S.r.l. develops a new class of drones for civil applications, named STEM - Systems of TEthered Multicopters. This invention features two or more multicopters tethered one to the other and to a ground station in different possible topologies. The tethers transfer energy to the drones, and smart winches regulate their length to avoid excessive sag while limiting the pulling forces. A control system endows STEM with a high degree of automation. This concept achieves long flight time, flexibility, and superior safety leading to little regulatory restrictions, thus overcoming the limits of the current drone technology. It will produce a radical innovation in civil applications such as monitoring of the built and natural environment, audio/video and entertainment industry, precision agriculture, and disaster relief. Now the activity is closed.