Deployable on-board optical fiber link for aerial drones

A single-use optical fiber reel for an aerial drone based real-time high-definition imaging system, the optical fiber reel comprising:

• a quick coupling plate configured to lockably engage with and attach to the aerial drone;
• and
• a wound optical fiber coated with an adhesive substance to prevent premature unwinding of the optical fiber wound on the reel, one end of the optical fiber being configured to be coupled to an optical connector of the aerial drone and another end of the optical fiber being configured to be coupled to an optical connector of a fixed station.

A horizontal rotary-wing drone configured to be remotely piloted by way of a control device, the drone comprising:

• at least one high-definition image sensor configured to produce an image stream;
• and
• a reel of optical fiber configured to be unwound from an inner surface of the reel, one end of the optical fiber being coupled to an optical connector of the drone and another end being configured to couple to an optical connector of a fixed station.