Tether management systems and methods

A system comprising:

• a logic device configured to communicate with a communication module and an orientation sensor coupled to a tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the communication module is configured to establish a communication link with a base station associated with the tethered UAV, the orientation sensor is configured to provide headings of the tethered UAV as it maneuvers within a survey area, and the logic device is configured to:
• receive heading data from the orientation sensor corresponding to one or more positions of the tethered UAV within the survey area;
• determine an accumulated twist of a tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV, wherein the accumulated twist of the tether is based, at least in part, on the received heading data;
• and
• generate a tether damage warning notification based, at least in part, on the determined accumulated twist and a maximum allowable accumulated twist associated with the tether coupled between the base station and the tethered UAV.