Tethered drones are rapidly expanding across surveillance, industrial inspection, public safety, and defense applications. By using a physical tether (optical fiber) instead of a wireless link, these platforms gain continuous power, secure communications and extended mission duration.
Ukrainian First Person View (FPV) drone with fiber-optic communication channel
(Source: Wikipedia, Fiber-optic drone)
The key challenge is delivering high-quality, ultra-low-latency video over long cable runs without adding unnecessary system complexity or cost. This is where Semtech’s BlueRiver® Audio Video Processor (AVP) technology delivers clear benefits for tethered drone developers with its AVP1000 chipset.
By eliminating unnecessary components and focusing on a minimal AVP-based architecture, tethered drone developers benefit from fewer hardware blocks, cleaner system design, faster deployment time, and overall cost optimization. This reduced complexity is especially valuable in airborne platforms where size, weight and integration effort are critical constraints.
In tethered drone operations, video directly affects pilot control, situational awareness and mission success.
BlueRiver AVP1000 AV Processor
The BlueRiver AVP1000 chip delivers:
Unlike compressed wireless video links, AVP ensures zero perceptible lag and no image degradation, even over long tether lengths.
Tethered drones depend on long, continuous physical connections that must deliver stable, uninterrupted performance even in harsh or contested environments. These fiber-optic tethers typically range from 5-30 km, with some prototypes reaching nearly 50 km. In these scenarios, AVP is exceptionally well-suited, offering:
This combination of optical fiber robustness and AVP’s engineered reliability makes it an ideal choice for mission-critical tethered drone deployments where stable, predictable performance is essential.
Ukrainian FPV drone unspooling the fiber-optic cable
Source: Wikipedia – Fiber-optic drone, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_optic_drone
One of the defining advantages of tethered drones is the ability to deliver continuous power from the ground, eliminating battery limitations and enabling longer missions.
Semtech complements AVP with a comprehensive portfolio of power management integrated circuits (ICs) that:
Unlike free-flying RF-linked drones, tethered platforms use optical fiber or Ethernet cables for both power and data, supporting multi-kilometer operations with strong resilience against RF interference and jamming. Fiber-optic tethers commonly span 5–30 km, are immune to RF jamming and difficult to detect, making them ideal for contested or interference-heavy airspace. AVP becomes a lean, purpose-fit solution for tethered drones both technically and economically.
For tethered drones, AVP can be deployed in a highly streamlined architecture, focused purely on what matters:
Block Diagram of Long-Range FPV Drones with Fiber-Optic Tether
Together, AVP and Semtech’s power solutions enable a tightly integrated tether architecture that delivers both power and data, optimized for endurance and reliability.
AVP-based systems integrate cleanly with existing drone control frameworks. Support for high-baud-rate UART communication enables compatibility with CRSF protocols, ensuring reliable command and telemetry alongside the video link. This allows teams to upgrade video performance without disrupting proven flight-control architecture.
Early adopters have demonstrated that AVP1000 delivers the video performance tethered drones demand, supported by the engineering expertise needed to move from concept to deployment.
Enabling the Next Generation of Tethered Drones
Tethered drones are redefining persistent aerial operations. With its simplified architecture, robust video performance and proven reliability, Semtech’s AVP transitions from a perceived ProAV solution into a powerful enabler for next-generation tethered drone systems.
When positioned correctly, AVP delivers exactly the benefits tethered drone applications require without unnecessary complexity or cost.
Ready to explore what AVP can do for your tethered drone platform? Contact our sales team to discuss your next project and review reference designs, performance data and integration options.
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