CZI TK3 Tethered Power System

The CZI TK3 (including TK3-M30 / TK3-M350 variants) is a tethered ground power supply system designed to give industrial drones continuous flight capability by delivering high-voltage power through a cable instead of relying on batteries.

At its core, it converts 220V AC (or wide-range AC input) into ~400V DC high-voltage output, which is transmitted through a lightweight tether cable to the aircraft. This enables continuous 24-hour operations when properly configured for compatible drones like the DJI Matrice series.

Key System Functions

• Converts AC power into ~400V DC for tether transmission
• Supports continuous 24-hour drone operation (mission-dependent setup)
• Designed for M30 / M30T, M300, M350 RTK class drones
• Powers both flight systems and high-demand payloads (lights, cameras, speakers)
• Includes intelligent monitoring, fault alerts, and safety protections

Ground Power Unit

The ground station is essentially the “power hub” of the system:

• Input: ~90–264V AC depending on configuration
• Output: up to ~3000W (higher-end setups like M350 class)
• Weight: ~7.5 kg for portability
• Built-in display for real-time power and system status
• Overload, temperature, and failure protection systems

Tether Cable System

• Lightweight high-strength cable (often ~80 meters standard)
• Designed to minimize drag and maintain flight stability
• Transfers both power and system control signals
• Engineered for continuous load and long-duration deployment

Aircraft Side Module

• Small onboard power module attached to the drone
• Converts incoming tether power into usable drone operating voltage
• Designed to minimize added flight weight (hundreds of grams range)
• Works alongside a backup battery for safety and stability

What It’s Used For

This system is typically deployed in operations where drones must stay airborne for long durations without interruption:

• Emergency lighting and disaster response
• Border and perimeter surveillance
• Wildfire monitoring
• Large-area industrial inspection
• Search and rescue overwatch
• Security operations requiring persistent aerial presence

Why It Matters

Instead of rotating batteries every 30–45 minutes, the tether system effectively turns compatible drones into stationary aerial infrastructure platforms, allowing continuous operation as long as ground power is available.