The tethered balloon system, designed for heavy-duty logistics in challenging terrain, has entered trial operations as part of the Tibet-Guangdong DC power transmission project. The balloon features a diameter of 25 meters and a volume of 8,000 cubic meters, utilizing helium for buoyancy and ground-based cables for precise positioning.
During recent testing at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the system successfully demonstrated its capability to carry a maximum payload of 2 tons. The technology is currently being deployed to transport power infrastructure materials across a linear distance of 500 meters with a vertical elevation change of 120 meters.
The system is capable of reaching a maximum flight distance of 800 meters while maintaining a displacement error of less than 0.5 meters. This solution addresses logistical constraints in high-altitude, mountainous regions where traditional road construction is impractical and drone capacity is limited for continuous heavy lifting.
Project managers noted that the current deployment site is located on steep, inaccessible mountain ridges. The tethered balloon provides the necessary stability and load-bearing capacity to operate effectively in thin air and high-wind conditions, significantly improving construction efficiency in ecologically sensitive areas.
