Drones have become a popular tool for security and surveillance purposes, providing a cost-effective and efficient way to enhance safety and protect assets. From law enforcement and military operations to private security and homeland security, drones are being used in various industries to gather information, monitor high-risk areas, and respond to emergencies. With their ability to provide real-time information and improved situational awareness, drones are becoming an essential tool for security professionals. In this article, we will explore the various industries that use drones for security, the types of drones used, and why drones with thermal imaging sensors and high-resolution cameras are considered the best solutions for security purposes.
Benefits Of Using Drone Technology For Security Purposes
The use of drones for security purposes has several benefits, including:
Increased Efficiency: Drones can quickly and effectively survey large areas, reducing the time and resources required to gather information.
Cost Savings: Drones are often more cost-effective than traditional security systems, reducing expenses for security personnel and equipment.
Improved Safety: By using drones for surveillance and monitoring, security personnel can reduce their risk of harm and remain safe from potentially dangerous situations.
Enhanced Situational Awareness: Drones equipped with thermal imaging sensors and high-resolution cameras provide real-time information and improved situational awareness, allowing security personnel to respond quickly to incidents.
Increased Detection Capabilities: Thermal imaging sensors can detect heat signatures, making them ideal for detecting people and animals in challenging conditions.
Enhanced Evidence Collection: High-resolution cameras can capture detailed images of the area, providing clear evidence for investigations.
Remote Monitoring: Drones can be used to monitor remote areas and provide information from hard-to-reach places, reducing the need for personnel to visit the site physically.
Best Drones For Security Purposes
The best type of drone for security purposes depends on each application’s specific needs and requirements.
Regardless of the type of drone used, the best drones for security are those equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, and night vision sensors. These technologies provide improved situational awareness and the ability to detect intrusion in low-light environments, making them ideal for security applications.
One of the best drone solutions for security applications is a drone-in-a-box system.
Drone-in-a-box is a pre-configured drone system that is designed for remote security & surveillance. The drone is stored in a protective enclosure; this box acts as a take-off, landing base, and charging station. The drone can be launched remotely via someone from a control station or programmed to launch and fly when a motion sensor is triggered or at certain times of the day.
Several companies provide drone-in-a-box solutions for security applications. The most popular ones are as follows:
Percepto.io
Percepto provides autonomous industrial drone solutions for various industries, such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. Its platform integrates drone hardware, software, and data analytics to provide autonomous inspections and data collection for various applications. The company aims to enhance operational efficiency and reduce customer costs through its autonomous drone technology.
Percepto offers three different drones for their DIB system. These drones come with dual camera systems, which include a high-resolution RGB and thermal imaging camera. The drones are lightweight but have been built to operate in the harshest of weather conditions and have an IP55 rating. With their innovative proprietary software, drones can track and follow anyone or anything that triggers a breach in security.
Easy Aerial
Easy Aerial’s DIB system is a complete, integrated drone solution that includes a drone, a control unit, and a charging system, all housed in a weather-resistant container. This system is designed for autonomous, remote operation and can be deployed quickly in a variety of environments. The DIB system can be programmed for specific missions, such as aerial surveys or inspections, and can operate for extended periods without human intervention. Easy Aerial offers three different DIB solutions, free-flight, tethered and a hybrid of tethered and free flight. These systems have been developed for the US military and are used by law enforcement agencies, first responders and high-value sites that need an added layer of aerial security.
DJI Dock With The M30/30T Drone
The DJI Dock is a component of DJI’s comprehensive drone-in-a-box solution, including the DJI M30 or M30T drone. It boasts a modular design and weather-resistant features; it has an IP55 rating and is resistant to extreme weather conditions. The Dock offers a range of capabilities, including an integrated weather station, security camera, RTK module, omni-directional antenna, LTE network card slot, and an expansion slot for edge computing. The charging capability of the DJI Dock is noteworthy, with the ability to fully charge a drone battery to 90% capacity in just 25 minutes. Additionally, the Dock comes equipped with a 5-hour backup battery for emergencies.
Drone-in-a-box systems are expensive, so they may only be suitable for some organisations. In this case, many stand-alone drones can strengthen security for high-value areas, infrastructure and assets.
These are some of the best individual drones for security applications:
DJI M30T
The DJI M30T is a professional-grade drone for industrial and commercial applications, including security. The M30 is equipped with advanced features such as RTK, which provides improved accuracy in GPS positioning, and a multi-sensor payload that includes a high-resolution RGB zoom and wide camera, a thermal imaging camera and a laser range finder.
The drone also has an FVP camera with night vision capability and an advanced omni-directional obstacle avoidance system for safer flight missions. Other safety features include an IP55 rating, an ADS-B receiver and an advanced redundancy system. The M30T is compact and lightweight for a feature-packed drone, making it ultra-portable and easy to travel with.
The DJI M30t has a long flight time of 41 minutes, making it ideal for long-duration missions and a maximum transmission range of 15km.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK with H20N Camera
The DJI Matrice 300 RTK is a professional-grade drone optimised for industrial and commercial applications. It features advanced flight and navigation systems, including RTK technology that delivers accurate positioning and can carry multiple payloads for various aerial tasks, such as imaging, surveying, and inspection.
One of the compatible payloads is the Zenmuse H20N. This multi-sensor payload consists of dual thermal cameras, a 2MP night vision camera, a 4MP wide-angle camera with starlight sensors, and a laser range finder. This combination of sensors provides a comprehensive solution for a range of applications, including search and rescue missions, public safety operations, and more.
The drone has a robust design that allows it to operate in the harshest weather conditions and has a flight time of around 42 minutes with the H20N payload.
DJI Mavic 3T
The DJI Mavic 3T is a powerful and versatile drone designed for commercial and industrial use. Equipped with a dual camera system, it features a high-resolution 4/3 CMOS sensor with 57× hybrid zoom and a thermal imaging camera, providing enhanced image and video quality for security applications. With a maximum flight time of 45 minutes and an RTK module, this drone offers superior efficiency and accuracy for tasks such as search and rescue, firefighting, and inspection. The Mavic 3T also features OcuSync 3.0 long-range video transmission technology, providing clear and stable video feeds from up to 15 km away. Additionally, its intelligent flight modes and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system ensure safe and efficient operation.
DJI Mavic 2 Advanced Enterprise
The DJI Mavic 2 Advanced Enterprise is a compact drone with features suitable for security applications. It is equipped with a dual camera system featuring a high-resolution 48MP RGB camera with 32x zoom and a thermal camera with 16x zoom, providing high-quality imaging and thermal sensing capabilities. This drone is designed to meet the demands of various industries, with advanced features such as an all-around obstacle avoidance system, a failsafe automatic return to home feature, and an ADS-B receiver. With a flight time of 31 minutes and a transmission range of up to 10km, the Mavic 2 Advanced Enterprise offers a reliable and efficient solution for many industrial applications.
Autel Robotics Dual 640T V3
The Autel Evo Dual 640T drone is a powerful and versatile drone that combines the latest in drone technology with advanced imaging capabilities. With its dual camera system, the Evo Dual 640T allows users to capture both high-quality RGB and thermal imaging footage. The 50MP RGB camera is equipped with an RYYB sensor, which provides outstanding image quality even in low light conditions. The thermal imaging camera can capture high-resolution 640×512 images at a rate of 25Hz, providing users with a detailed and accurate representation of thermal data.
The drone is equipped with an obstacle avoidance system that helps to ensure a safe and smooth flight, even in complex and challenging environments. The transmission range of the Evo Dual 640T is 15km, providing users with the ability to fly and monitor their drone from a significant distance. With a 38-minute flight time, the drone offers users ample time for surveillance and security patrols.
Autel Evo Max 4T
The Autel Robotics Evo Max 4T is a new and innovative drone designed to meet the demands of the modern drone market. This compact and foldable drone is packed with features that make it a versatile and powerful tool for many industrial applications. One of the key features of the Evo Max 4T is its multi-sensor payload, which includes an RGB camera, thermal camera, and laser range finder. This combination of sensors allows users to capture a wide range of data, from high-quality images and video to thermal data.
The EVO Max 4T is equipped with state-of-the-art flight control modules and AI algorithms to effectively combat RFI, EMI, and GPS spoofing, making it safe to be operated on sensitive and high-value sites.
The Evo Max 4T is rated IP43, which allows it to be operated in rainy weather conditions. It also has a wind resistance of 27mph, making it a durable and reliable drone for use in a wide range of environments. With a flight time of around 42 minutes, the drone provides users ample time to capture data and images without worrying about running out of power. Additionally, the Evo Max 4T has a transmission range of 20km, allowing users to fly and monitor their assets from a significant distance.
Parrot Anafi USA
The Parrot Anafi USA is a versatile and reliable drone designed for use by the US Department of Defense and other government agencies. Meeting the standards set by the Blue UAS program, this drone is equipped with advanced features that make it suitable for various industrial applications. It has a dual camera system comprising a high-resolution RGB camera and a thermal camera, offering versatile imaging and sensing capabilities. With a flight time of 32 minutes and a transmission range of up to 5km, the Parrot Anafi USA offers efficient and effective performance for tasks such as search and rescue, surveillance, and inspection.
In addition to its advanced features, the Parrot Anafi USA has an IP53 rating, making it suitable for rainy weather. Whether operating in rain or wind, this drone is designed to withstand harsh conditions and maintain its performance. With its advanced features, compact design, and rugged build, the
Parrot Anafi USA is a top-of-the-line drone that offers reliable and efficient performance for industrial and government applications.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, drones are becoming increasingly important tools for security professionals, providing real-time information and improved situational awareness. With features such as high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging sensors, drones can detect heat signatures and provide clear images of the area, making them ideal for security applications. Drone-in-a-box solutions, such as those offered by Percepto and Easy Aerial, provide a highly effective and low-maintenance solution for security professionals, offering a flexible and scalable solution that can be adapted to the specific needs of each application. Individual drones such as the DJI Matrice 300 RTK and DJI M30T provide advanced features and high-quality imaging capabilities, making them versatile and powerful tools for security professionals. Overall, the use of drones for security purposes offers valuable information and improved situational awareness, helping security personnel respond quickly and effectively to security incidents.
