Tethered Drone Lighting for Disaster Response: TE400 Flood Recovery Case Study

In August 2026, torrential rainfall struck Guangxi, China, causing severe flooding across the region. Although the flood peak eventually passed, affected communities were left with damaged infrastructure, blocked streets and thick layers of mud.

In Hengzhou, Nanning, emergency utility crews began an urgent overnight operation to remove flood debris and restore electricity. The work had to continue after dark, but nighttime visibility quickly became one of the greatest obstacles facing the response teams.

The ground was uneven, slippery and covered by ankle-deep mud. Repair crews needed to clear debris, inspect damaged electrical infrastructure and coordinate personnel and machinery throughout the affected area. Under these conditions, insufficient lighting could slow the restoration process and expose frontline workers to additional risks.

The Nighttime Lighting Challenge After the Flood

Traditional vehicle-mounted lighting was deployed around the work area, but the terrain restricted where vehicles could be positioned. Buildings, equipment, trees and piles of flood debris created shadows and blind spots, preventing the light from reaching the entire site.

Moving large lighting vehicles through mud was also difficult. Even when positioned close to the operation, ground-level lights could not provide a complete view of the cleanup and repair zone.

For the emergency teams, this was more than an issue of convenience. Poor visibility made it harder to identify unstable surfaces, standing water, cables, debris and other hazards. It also affected the safe coordination of excavators, service vehicles and workers on foot.

The operation needed a lighting solution that could be deployed quickly, illuminate the site from above and continue working throughout the night.

Deploying the TE400 Tethered system for Emergency Aerial Lighting

To overcome these limitations, the local power utility deployed the TE400 ground-powered aerial lighting system with a DJI Matrice 400 enterprise drone.

Despite the wet and muddy conditions, the emergency team rapidly positioned the ground power unit and installed the airborne lighting equipment on the drone. Once deployed, the aircraft carried the high-output lighting system above the work area and maintained a stable hover.

From this elevated position, broad white floodlighting spread across the emergency site. The light penetrated the darkness and lingering mist, revealing muddy roads, equipment routes and active repair areas that had previously been difficult to see.

Instead of projecting light horizontally from one side of the site, the airborne system illuminated the operation from above. This reduced many of the shadows created by vehicles and debris and gave teams a clearer overview of the entire work zone.

The improved visibility provided important support for both mechanical and manual operations. Heavy machinery could move more safely through the cleanup area, while ground crews were better able to identify hazards and continue power-restoration work through the night.

120,000 Lumens for Wide-Area Emergency Illumination

The TE400 white-light payload delivers high-output illumination for large outdoor emergency scenes.

Parameter	Specification
Power / Luminous Flux (White Light)	≥ 1,200 W / 120,000 lm

With at least 1,200 watts of lighting power and 120,000 lumens of luminous flux, the system provided the brightness required for the flood-recovery operation.

Positioning the light in the air allowed illumination to reach a wider area than ground lighting alone. It also allowed the emergency team to adjust the drone’s operating position according to the active cleanup and repair zone.

Actual ground illuminance and coverage depend on flight height, lighting angle, atmospheric conditions and the required lux level. At the Guangxi site, the main advantage was the system’s ability to create broad, elevated lighting over muddy terrain that was difficult for conventional equipment to access.

Continuous Power for a 12-Hour Night Operation

A normal battery-powered drone must land repeatedly for battery replacement. During an emergency response, every landing would interrupt the lighting and temporarily return parts of the work site to darkness.

The TE400 addresses this limitation by transmitting continuous power from the ground station to the airborne unit through a 110-meter high-performance nickel-alloy tether cable.

This ground-to-air power supply supports up to 12 hours of continuous operation, allowing the lighting system to remain in the air throughout an extended overnight mission without frequent battery changes.

For the utility crews in Hengzhou, continuous illumination meant that cleanup, inspection and electrical repair could proceed across rotating work shifts. The light remained stable while personnel and machinery continued working below.

Protecting the Ground Power Unit from Mud and Water

The flood site presented another practical challenge: the ground power equipment had to operate close to mud and standing water.

The TE400’s specially designed elevated stand raised the power unit above the contaminated surface. This helped isolate the equipment from mud and shallow water and reduced the risk of cooling vents becoming blocked.

Keeping the unit elevated also helped prevent muddy water from splashing into electrical components, reducing the potential for contamination, overheating or a short circuit. This design feature was particularly valuable in a flood-recovery environment where clean, dry ground was difficult to find.

The system’s portable design allowed the team to position it where it was needed without relying on a large trailer or lighting truck. In a time-critical emergency, this combination of portability and environmental protection helped the crew establish aerial illumination quickly.

Integrated Control and Power-Interruption Protection

The TE400 is integrated with the DJI operating environment. Personnel can switch the light on or off and adjust its brightness through the DJI remote controller and Pilot 2 app. The system can also support control through a WeChat Mini Program or dedicated application.

This gives emergency crews a straightforward way to manage the lighting without adding a separate, complicated operating process.

The system also includes dedicated protection for an abnormal interruption of ground power. If the tethered power supply is unexpectedly disconnected, the drone remains controllable and can perform a stable landing.

This protection is especially important during disaster operations, where unstable power sources, damaged infrastructure and difficult ground conditions may create unexpected interruptions. A controlled landing helps protect the drone, lighting payload and personnel working below.

Supporting Faster and Safer Flood Recovery

The Guangxi deployment demonstrates how aerial emergency lighting can solve a specific problem at a disaster site.

The TE400 did not replace the utility workers, cleanup machinery or existing ground lights. Instead, it provided the elevated, wide-area illumination that conventional lighting could not deliver on its own.

By improving visibility across the muddy work zone, the system helped:

• Reduce lighting blind spots around vehicles and debris
• Support safer movement of machinery and personnel
• Maintain visibility during extended overnight shifts
• Avoid repeated lighting interruptions for drone battery changes
• Improve coordination between cleanup and power-repair teams
• Protect the ground power equipment from mud and standing water

For crews working to restore essential services, reliable lighting helps turn nighttime hours into productive working time.

Reliable Light When Every Minute Matters

During flood recovery and other disaster-response operations, time directly affects how quickly roads can be cleared, infrastructure can be repaired and electricity can be restored.

The TE400 transformed the DJI Matrice 400 into a long-duration aerial emergency lighting platform. Its 120,000-lumen white-light payload illuminated a broad area from above, while the 110-meter tether supplied continuous power for up to 12 hours of operation.

At the same time, the elevated ground-unit stand helped protect the power system from mud and water, and integrated lighting controls allowed personnel to adjust the system according to changing conditions at the site.

In Hengzhou, each hour of stable illumination supported the crews working through the night to restore power and normal life. In disaster response, light is not simply equipment—it is part of the infrastructure that allows recovery work to continue.

Learn more about the TE400 emergency aerial lighting system , or contact us to discuss lighting requirements for flood recovery, utility restoration and nighttime emergency operations.