CCTV Exclusive at Zhongguancun Forum 2023: Dagong Technology's Tethered UAV Crowned as "New Aerial Infrastructure" for the Trillion-Yuan Low-Altitude Economy
Beijing, China — In May 2023, as the global spotlight descended upon the Zhongguancun Forum, China's premier stage for frontier technological innovation, the national broadcaster CCTV bypassed a sea of futuristic exhibits to focus on a singular, seemingly unassuming aircraft with a "tail." This exclusive interview with Beijing Dagong Technology Co., Ltd.’s tethered UAV system—dubbed the "Iron Kite"—did more than showcase a product; it officially recognized a paradigm shift. Anchored by a specialized photoelectric composite cable, Dagong Technology’s platform has transcended the traditional boundaries of battery-limited flight, officially maturing into China's "New Aerial Infrastructure" and a pivotal lever for the trillion-yuan low-altitude economy.
The CCTV lens captured a fundamental truth: true industrial disruption lies in solving the most stubborn bottlenecks. For decades, the UAV industry has been shackled by the "endurance curse," with flight times measured in minutes. Dagong Technology’s tethered UAV shatters this constraint entirely. By drawing continuous ground power through its proprietary cable, the system achieves 24-hour uninterrupted hovering, effectively transforming the drone from a transient observational tool into a persistent, reliable "aerial sentinel."
More critically, by discarding heavy batteries, the platform unlocks industry-leading payload capabilities. As highlighted during the forum, the system stably carries a 35kg effective payload at a 300-meter altitude. This robust capacity, combined with Level 7 wind resistance ensured by the physical cable connection, allows the UAV to function as a steadfast "aerial multi-task platform." Whether deploying heavy communication base stations for emergency networks, broadcasting-grade electro-optic pods for live transmissions, or high-power lighting for night operations, the "Iron Kite" remains rock-solid in complex airflow—a capability that fundamentally redefines the application paradigm of modern UAVs.
The Zhongguancun showcase was a moment of brilliance forged by a decade of "tech-craftsman" dedication, a journey inextricably linked with the nation's most critical moments. For ten years, Dagong Technology has served as CCTV’s "Eye in the Sky," setting the gold standard for major event broadcasting. From the 70th National Day to the CPC Centenary at Tiananmen Square, the system hovered with millimeter-level precision, transmitting ultra-high-definition 12G bandwidth video feeds, delivering perspectives unattainable by any other means.
Yet, its most profound value is realized on the frontlines of disaster. As early as the 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, Dagong Technology’s tethered UAV deployed the country's first emergency high-altitude communication base station, piercing through the "communication blackout." In the ensuing years, during the Henan mega-floods and Xizang earthquakes, it evolved into the backbone node of China's "Air-Space-Ground Integrated" emergency network, providing persistent illumination, reconnaissance, and vital signal restoration. It has proven, unequivocally, that it is not merely a piece of equipment, but a strategic asset indispensable to the national emergency management system.
This rapid ascent has been powerfully catalyzed by Beijing's thriving low-altitude economy ecosystem. Rooted in the Zhongguancun Yanqing Park since 2020, Dagong Technology benefits from an unparalleled 374-square-kilometer "push-door-and-fly" premium airspace. This environment slashes R&D iteration cycles from months to days, fostering an industrial cluster that generated 2.33 billion yuan in 2023 alone.
Looking beyond emergency rescue and broadcasting, the "Iron Kite" is rapidly evolving into an open "Aerial Android System" with exponential application potential. In smart city governance, it is becoming the "aerial grid worker," capable of 24/3D monitoring of key infrastructures and borders. In high-rise firefighting—a critical urban vulnerability—it offers a revolutionary approach with integrated lighting, window-breaking, and fire-hose capabilities. Furthermore, in complex terrain logistics and industrial inspection, its endurance and payload are replacing high-risk human labor. Pioneering the future, Dagong Technology is already advancing GNSS-independent visual positioning and laser navigation, ensuring absolute operational stability even in electromagnetically contested or signal-denied environments.
The 2023 Zhongguancun Forum was not merely an exhibition; it was a definitive annotation of an era. The CCTV lens captured the precise moment a technological concept ascended to the core of industrial strategy. From the laboratories of Tsinghua and Beihang, to the disaster zones of Jiuzhaigou, to the bustling eco-park of Yanqing, Dagong Technology has used a single cable to string together technological innovation and national responsibility. That cable anchors a decade of craftsman perseverance, whilst unleashing the ambition to define the future sky order in the trillion-yuan low-altitude economy. When the sky becomes the new infrastructure layer, the "Iron Kite" is already there, holding the line.