Unmanned systems for air and ground: Hoverfly and Overland AI pair tethered drone with ground vehicle

Two companies want to bring unmanned systems in the air and on the ground closer together and accelerate the development and deployment of integrated unmanned solutions: Hoverfly Technologies, a leader in tethered unmanned aircraft systems (TeUAS), and Overland AI, a pioneer in autonomous ground vehicles (AGV). The target group is customers from defence, national security and government.

The partnership brings together Hoverfly's Blue UAS platforms, cleared for unmanned airspace, and Overland AI's autonomy platform for ground systems. The result is a tightly integrated air-ground capability that extends sensing, communications and endurance in complex and contested environments. The companies thus provide a remotely operated, cross-domain solution that ensures continuous situational awareness and operational capability.

As the US Department of Defense introduces autonomous and semi-autonomous systems more rapidly across all US service branches, ensuring that unmanned systems can work together across domains is a top priority. This is exactly what the cooperation addresses by combining continuous aerial surveillance and communications with autonomous ground manoeuvre. According to the press release, this creates a more robust and adaptable robotic ecosystem for locations where conventional platforms reach their limits.

Modern operations require autonomous systems that work together – not in isolation— Steve Walters, CEO of Hoverfly

Through our partnership with Overland AI, we are extending the reach and effectiveness of unmanned ground systems with aerial persistence that fundamentally changes the way soldiers perceive, decide and act.— Steve Walters, CEO of Hoverfly

Unmanned systems working together: power through the tether

Spectre, Hoverfly's tethered unmanned aircraft system, is continuously powered by Overland AI's Ultra UGV, an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). This allows it to operate for hours or days without interruption and to deliver data that extends command and control (C2) systems and supports perimeter security and expeditionary operations. Combining Overland AI's autonomous ground platforms with the Hoverfly Spectre TeUAS provides a decisive advantage in mobility, perception and endurance. Operators thus have a mobile, elevated observation point that can stay airborne for long periods while remaining low in radio emissions and logistically efficient.

Depending on the payload, the UGV and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pairing can provide persistent surveillance, serve as a mobile electromagnetic warfare station or relay communications.