Advances in Drone Technology Will Revolutionize Campus Security

As technology improves, surveillance drones will likely patrol at-risk areas 24/7/365, acting both as a deterrent and as a “set-and-forget” mechanism against break-ins.

Surveillance drones can and will be used for many other security applications. Consider these wide-ranging possible end users: banks, casinos, airports, ports, maritime, border patrol, transportation, government facilities, large stadiums and events, law enforcement, fire departments, neighborhood watch, home and ranching/livestock, industrial and power plants, high-tech firms and other corporations, college campuses, construction sites, prisons, post-natural disaster environments, endangered species and anti-poaching, sensitive product shipping, anti-pirating surveillance, criminal car tracking, crowd control, VIP security, offshore drill rigs and more.

Many of these applications are already underway. BP was the first company to obtain FAA approval to use drones to inspect the security of oil facilities in Alaska. The company uses remotely-controlled 6 foot-long, fixed-wing Puma Aerovironment drones to conduct aerial surveys over BP’s Prudhoe Bay oil field on Alaska’s North Slope. Abu Dhabi and Gatwick, U.K., were the first to deploy drones to ensure onsite safety.

In Gatwick, “Skyranger” drones equipped with high-definition cameras take snapshots and forward them to officers using portable consoles up to half a kilometer away. In Abu Dhabi, drone cameras are being used to assess and monitor accidents, provide information during search-and-rescue situations and gather information about approaching vessels or ships with sensitive cargos.

Today, we are talking about a single drone or a few drones providing additional security when integrated with existing systems. Future possibilities, enabled by rapidly advancing robotic and autonomous technologies, are almost endless.

Universities Consider Adoption of Drones

Imagine a gunman is reported on your campus, and a fleet of security drones responds. The drones then relay the exact location of the gunman, sending a live video feed to the security system’s command and control sector. Although this seems somewhat unbelievable, drone technology is progressing to this level of advancement.

Universities are pursuing the advance of this aerial robotic technology in their research laboratories and classrooms, and lately the emphasis has been shifting from military applications to public safety and security applications, as well as commercialization in a wide variety of markets.

Many universities have already begun adding drones to their security systems. The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), for example, announced that it would be using drones to assist campus police in maintaining “a safe campus environment.” According to a statement by UAH Police Chief Michael Snellgrove, the department believes that the technology may be incredibly useful and offer a wide range of possible applications. Ultimately, their objective is to enhance their ability to make UAH even more secure.

Drones Can Protect First Responders

Drones can also protect law enforcement personnel trying to gather information on or respond to an active crime scene where suspects may have weapons or there is a bomb. Additionally, drones can be equipped with nonlethal weapons such as Tasers, tear gas and rubber bullets, further protecting first responders.

Imagine in the not-too-distant future when all security cameras and security guards are replaced by a swarm of flying drones that are on continuous patrol while recording video sent to an automated system to detect, identify and respond to an intruder. The technology of swarming drones is here today. Although not yet commercially available, it has been demonstrated in laboratory and field tests.

Implementing drone security technology increases the security veil while reducing expenses associated with the inefficiencies of on-the-ground security personnel. Drone security systems will save time, money and lives. The only question is, are you ready for the drone revolution?

John Minor is the Provost of the Unmanned Vehicle University (UVU).

This article was originally posted on Tech Decisions sister site Campus Safety.