Uncrewed Systems Technology 048 | Kodiak Driver | 5G focus | Tiburon USV | Skypersonic Skycopter and Skyrover | CES 2023 | Limbach L 2400 DX and L 550 EFG | NXInnovation NX 100 Enviro | Solar power focus | Protegimus Protection

108 I f uncrewed systems are to make the most of the opportunities offered by the need to secure large and often complex sites, they will have to exploit automation as far as possible, ensure safety and cost-effectiveness, and stay on the right side of the regulators. Centrally operated UAV-in-a-box systems run by specialist contractors are emerging as an attractive option, and Protegimus Protection, headed by founder and CEO Stephen O’Callaghan, is one such provider. The company works in partnership with Idiployer, which makes the Nexus UAV- in-a-box system, and FlytNow, which provides the operator interface. It has been providing automated security since early 2022. Protegimus’ Residential and Commercial Aerial Protection Services (RCAPS) for construction sites, for example, is claimed to reduce security costs by about 50% while protecting vehicles, equipment and personnel on site. It offers other benefits as well, such as site development updates, inspections, site safety and compliance checks, fire monitoring and incident response and management. Protegimus manages flight operations directly from its control centre, but there is a regulatory requirement to place an observer on site as a safety measure to ensure that the UAV is doing what the company’s operators are telling it to do via the flight software, O’Callaghan explains. Peter Donaldson reports on how this uncrewed system keeps construction sites safe and secure The watchkeeper February/March 2023 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Protegimus Protection’s automated UAV patrols of construction sites have been cutting security costs since early 2022 (Photos courtesy of Protegimus Protection)