LandEuro 2025: Swiss company Fotokite mounts 45-meter tethered drone on SUV rooftops for uninterrupted public safety use.

At LandEuro 2025, the Swiss company Fotokite presented its Rooftop Box Drone system, a vehicle-mounted, tethered unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed by Fotokite for public safety and emergency response applications. The system is based on the Fotokite Sigma platform and is designed to deploy automatically from the roof of SUVs or heavy apparatus vehicles. Activation is initiated via a single button, with no piloting required, allowing fully autonomous takeoff, flight, and landing. The system is tethered by a reinforced ultra-thin cable that provides continuous power and data transmission. It operates independently of GPS and complies with public safety aviation standards, which permits tethered drones to be operated by both professional and volunteer police and fire agencies without certified pilots, even in controlled airspace.
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Tethered drones, such as those proposed by Fotokite, are generally easier to deploy in controlled airspace due to their restricted altitude and fixed position, which simplifies compliance with aviation regulations. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Tethered drones are unmanned aerial systems that remain physically connected to a ground station through a cable, which supplies continuous power and enables data transmission between the drone and the operator. The tether eliminates the need for onboard batteries by drawing electricity from the ground source, allowing the drone to stay aloft for extended periods without interruption. This configuration also facilitates real-time data transfer through the same cable, bypassing wireless signals and reducing susceptibility to interference. The system typically includes an automatic winch or deployment mechanism that manages tether tension during takeoff, flight, and landing. One of the primary advantages of tethered drones is their ability to operate continuously for as long as the ground station is powered, making them suitable for persistent observation tasks. Additionally, the tether provides a stable communication link that is less vulnerable to signal jamming or loss, offering a more reliable solution in environments where uninterrupted operation and data integrity are essential.

The Rooftop Box configuration measures 764 x 594 x 273 millimeters and weighs 29 kilograms. The drone itself weighs 1.3 kilograms and is constructed from weather-sealed carbon fiber and composite materials. The system is rated IP55 for weather resistance, allowing operation in rain, snow, and wind. The tether supports a maximum flight altitude of 45 meters above the ground station and ensures secure, non-wireless communication between the air vehicle and the control interface. The drone can remain airborne for 24 hours or more, provided the host vehicle is either running or connected to shore power. The system performs automated pre-flight checks and includes multiple redundancies such as a backup flight power system capable of maintaining flight for up to 120 seconds and a backup ground station power supply to ensure controlled recovery during power loss. Tether separation detection, auto-maintenance alerts, and redundant flight control are also integrated.

The onboard sensor package includes a radiometric thermal camera and a low-light RGB camera. The thermal camera has a resolution of 320 x 240 at 27 frames per second and can measure absolute temperatures from -40°C to 400°C, with an accuracy of ±5%. The RGB camera delivers a 1080p video stream at 30 frames per second, supports 12 megapixel still images, and features a hybrid zoom capability from 0.5x to 16x. The sensors are mounted on a three-axis gimbal for stabilized imaging. The Fotokite Live control software, included with the system, is available on Windows, iOS, and Android tablets. It provides real-time telemetry including flight altitude, heading, and position, and allows camera control via a simplified interface. Live video streams can be transmitted via WPA2-encrypted Wi-Fi or an integrated LTE modem. Up to 50 remote viewers can simultaneously access live feeds through a secure network connection. The system includes a one-year or 200-flight-hour warranty, with optional extended service coverage. Flight logs can be stored for 24 hours and uploaded to an optional cloud account at the station using a single-button command.

The Fotokite Rooftop Box has been deployed by multiple agencies, including the New York Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Paris Fire Brigade, Zurich Fire & Rescue, Geneva Fire & Rescue, Milan Fire Brigade, Ottawa Fire Service, Cornwall Fire & Rescue in the UK, and Innherred Fire & Rescue in Norway. It has been used for fire detection, hose line coordination, post-fire thermal inspection, traffic flow monitoring, and crowd observation during events such as the Chandler Ostrich Festival and university graduations. It is compatible with Axon platforms, allowing integration with Axon Respond and Evidence.com for digital documentation and remote coordination. Additional integration partners include Cradlepoint and DroneResponders, supporting secure communications and network continuity. A unit was also donated to the international disaster response organization @fire, where it has been used for field deployment.

The Rooftop Box is one of multiple deployment configurations for the Fotokite Sigma system. Other configurations include the Transport Case, which allows mobile use across multiple vehicles, and tray-mounted systems for fixed installations inside vehicles. All variants use the same flight platform and share core capabilities, including tethered power and data, automated deployment, and weather-rated design. The system’s LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity enable real-time streaming across mobile networks for use in mutual aid scenarios and incident command environments. Updates are delivered over the air, with automated software management and service documentation built into the interface. The system supports secure operational documentation without requiring operator intervention or piloting experience, reducing training requirements and allowing reallocation of personnel during deployments.

Fotokite was founded in 2014 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich and is headquartered in Zurich, with a North American office in Boulder, Colorado. The company received Series B financing in April 2024, raising CHF 10 million from Carbyne Equity Partners, Swisscanto, and Credit Suisse. These funds are directed toward expanding international sales, research and development, and production capabilities. Fotokite’s stated operational focus is on public safety applications rather than defense or commercial sectors. Its products are currently deployed across six continents. Partnerships with distributors such as Safeware (USA), Brandschutztechnik Schlichtiger (Germany), and Growag (Switzerland) support regional market access. The company has also participated in integration initiatives funded by Swiss and EU programs, including Horizon 2020, for projects involving aerial situational awareness and emergency response innovation.

The Rooftop Box is positioned within the growing category of tethered drones, which include systems from companies such as Elistair, Hoverfly, and Zenith Aerotech. These systems share core features including continuous power through tethers, secure data links, and suitability for persistent surveillance applications. Compared to free-flying drones, tethered systems have limited mobility and are restricted to a fixed radius around the ground station, but they offer continuous operation without the need to change batteries, are less vulnerable to radio-frequency jamming, and do not require complex airspace authorizations in many jurisdictions. In operational environments where overhead visibility and continuous monitoring are prioritized over range and maneuverability, tethered drones such as the Fotokite Sigma provide an alternative platform for law enforcement, firefighting, traffic management, and infrastructure observation. The Fotokite Rooftop Box configuration specifically addresses deployment speed, integration with vehicle systems, and low-maintenance operation in urban and emergency environments.