Sigma Station
The Sigma Station is an autonomous tethered drone system manufactured by Fotokite (Zurich, Switzerland) designed for persistent aerial surveillance in public safety, enterprise, defense, and critical infrastructure applications. It features continuous flight capability via a powered tether, autonomous flight control, and integrated thermal and low-light imaging.
Overview and Use Cases
The Sigma Station is a tethered drone system developed for applications requiring sustained aerial observation. Its primary use cases include public safety operations, enterprise security monitoring, defense applications, and critical infrastructure surveillance. The system has been deployed across six continents, with over 1,000 units in operational use.
Key Capabilities
- Continuous Operation: Powered tether enables 24+ hours of continuous flight without requiring battery changes or retrieval
- Rapid Deployment: Single-button launch and landing mechanism allows deployment within seconds
- Autonomous Flight Control: Operates independently in GPS-degraded environments and standard conditions
- Imaging Systems: Integrated thermal imaging and low-light imaging sensors for day and night operations
- User Interface: Simplified single-button activation for launch and landing procedures
Specifications
- Tether Power: Powered tether system provides continuous electrical supply to aircraft
- Flight Duration: 24+ hours continuous operation capability
- Deployment Time: Seconds to operational status from ground position
- Sensor Integration: Thermal camera and low-light imaging capability
- Operational Environment: Functions in GPS-denied or GPS-degraded conditions
Manufacturer
The Sigma Station is manufactured by Fotokite, based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company specializes in tethered drone systems for professional applications requiring extended endurance and persistent surveillance capabilities.
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