The Future of Security Is In The Air

Autonomous Security Drones Take Flight Indoors

Perhaps the most popular commercial use of drones is in security. Around 16 percent of those in the security industry already use drones, and close to 60 percent either use or expect to use drones in the near future. The combination of speed, flexibility, and stealth make drones very attractive for building and property security. At the same time, the full range of security uses have yet to be fully explored, so many are still in a wait-and-see holding pattern in regards to the adoption of drones.

The primary benefit of using drones is that they are not fixed to a set location. They can pull in close to a subject or provide a broad aerial view of a situation, and they can fly into areas of interest. The drawback with drones however, is their short battery life which in some cases can last only as long as 25 minutes of continual flight.

Avansig, a Spanish drone-development company, seems to have solved this problem by partnering with Skysense, a drone-charging company based in Berlin, Germany. The system is fully automated, meaning the drone is programmed to fly its preconfigured route through a building, automatically dock to recharge when the battery is low, and then take off to fly its route again.

This major development in drone technology—autonomous drones using AI and navigation systems—is also its greatest barrier due to government regulations. However, because the drones are flying autonomously indoors, the restrictions against autonomous drones do not apply.

Drones’ versatility as moving cameras helps eliminate blind spots and allows the camera to follow intruders or security risks. The mere presence of a drone can also actively discourage intruders. Drones can be outfitted not only with regular cameras, but also with thermal cameras, allowing them to track heat patterns. They can also be outfitted with bright lights and loudspeakers.

These characteristics combine to create a security system that is active, interactive, and even autonomous. There is little question that the future of security is in drones, especially in autonomous drones.