Fotokite launches Sigma+ tethered drone with 24‑hour flight and IR+640

Key facts

• Up to 24 hours continuous flight with active tether control and operation to 45 m height.
• Optional radiometric thermal: 320×240 standard or IR+ 640 (640×480) with 8× zoom; paired with 12MP RGB camera.
• IP55 weather rating, improved GPS for urban/GPS‑challenged areas, vehicle rooftop or transport case deployment and LTE streaming.

2 minute read

Fotokite introduced the Sigma+, the next generation of its tethered aerial awareness platform targeted at public safety and emergency response units. Designed to operate hands‑free, Sigma+ launches and lands with a single button and uses active tether control to maintain persistent air presence even where GPS is degraded. The platform’s headline improvements include increased satellite connectivity for better GPS performance in urban and GPS‑challenged settings, optimized thrust distribution for stability and high‑altitude operation, and hardware upgrades such as a redesigned gimbal, refined carbon frame, reinforced tether components and safer battery systems. Fotokite rates Sigma+ at IP55 for weather resilience and claims up to 24 hours of continuous flight at heights up to 45 metres. Thermal sensing options have been expanded: a 320×240 radiometric thermal camera measuring −40°C to 400°C, and an IR+ 640 module offering 640×480 radiometric imagery, 8× zoom and double the field of view for complex incidents. Both thermal options pair with a 12MP low‑light RGB camera with up to 32× zoom and full HD streaming. For rapid response, Sigma+ supports vehicle‑mounted Rooftop Box installations and modular Transport Case deployments. Connectivity covers local Ethernet and encrypted Wi‑Fi, and integrated LTE enables remote streaming and mutual aid coordination. Fotokite says Sigma+ is available now and will host a webinar to highlight operational use cases.

Source: Fotokite