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

109 On-site set-up The set-up of each customer’s system is strongly influenced by the topology of the site and the customer’s priorities. “No two sites are the same,” O’Callaghan points out. “Initial consultation with the client allows us to identify key vulnerable areas that need an extra layer of safety and security on top of those already implemented or as a standalone system.” Site visits are usually conducted during phase one of a construction project, which is usually after its location has been confirmed. “We visit the site and conduct the site security assessment, basically to detail how the automated services and systems will help the customer solve the problems they face, whether they involve intruders, theft or criminal damage for example, or if the customer wants inspections and surveys,” O’Callaghan says. “We detail the boxes they need, howmany, and obviously how we intend to run the operation. “If an in-person visit is not feasible then we conduct a virtual visit to gain a general understanding of the site and the factors we need to consider when planning operations there.” He adds that site surveys are conducted at ground level as well as from the air. The ground survey involves a walk-around by a specialist and is followed by a UAV mission to provide 360o coverage of the site. Information obtained from the survey enables the Protegimus team to design a bespoke set-up, which includes the number and location of UAV-in-a-box units. The number required depends on factors including the size and environment of the site, the required frequency of patrols, inspections, mapping flights and so on, and the coverage required, which could be 24/7, on-call, daily or weekly, for example. The safest and most efficient positions for the box (or boxes) might be well above ground level, O’Callaghan notes, in which case the company will build custom elevated platforms on which to mount them. A system typically requires at least two people to install, followed by operational planning for the site by one of Protegimus’ UAV specialists. “Themost common challenge we’ve facedwith sites is the support infrastructure in terms of power and Ethernet connectivity,” he says. “If Ethernet is not available thenwe can run operations over a 4G network, as the docking station has an integrated router to enable docks to be installed almost anywhere.” Idiployer’s Nexus box hosts a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced quadcopter, a combination that has been through thousands of hours of testing and subsequent operations, O’Callaghan says. This is the principal UAV in use by Protegimus, but Idiployer is developing a new version of the box known as Nexus Plus that will also support the Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal. The system can also be integrated into existing security infrastructures such as video management systems, CCTV, passive infrared sensors and alarms. “These can all act as triggers to alert the UAV to go to a specific location to investigate further. This is achieved through FlytNow’s flight software and application programming interfaces,” O’Callaghan explains. In the Protegimus remote operations centre, the number of people dedicated to each customer depends on factors such as the level of risk associated with Protegimus Protection security services | In operation Uncrewed Systems Technology | February/March 2023 The Idiployer box needs a level surface, power and connectivity to operate. Some sites allow ground- level siting, others need elevated platforms