Robotic Security Dogs Now on the Job to Protect Crops
Robotic security dogs like the DroneDog have a growing role in protecting food crops. Bayer is using the smart technology for its ag interests in Hawaii. Photo: Asylon
For centuries, dogs have played a vital role in protecting farms. Actual canines are still patrolling fence lines and guarding herds. But now they are being joined by high-tech imitations for even more advanced sentry duties. Robotic security dogs are becoming an integral part of security operations for many industries, including agriculture.
In Hawaii, Bayer operates seven facilities totaling more than 8,000 acres and its operations there are the source of 90% of the company’s internationally sold feed corn seed. At any given time, fields can be threatened by vandals, wildfires, boars, and other hazards.
At first, Bayer relied solely on human security teams to protect employees, intellectual, and physical property on the islands. But staffing patrols for 8,000 acres is cost prohibitive, and staffing challenges and labor shortages made it difficult to have consistent overnight coverage. Enter Asylon’s DroneDog robotic security dogs.
DroneDog is designed to handle dangerous all-terrain environments so security personnel can focus on other immediate tasks instead of patrolling perimeters or sitting in an idling vehicle all night. This smart tech tool is equipped with thermal and electro-optical cameras with 20X optical zoom, AI/ML classifiers, cloud connectivity, an expandable payload port, and anti-theft technology. DroneDog connects to the cloud for remote operation and live streaming. On-site security teams at Bayer, at the Bayer Hawaii Security Operations Center, and in Asylon’s 24/7/365 Robotic Security Operations Center can instantly be alerted to potential threats on the ground and view them in real-time. Depending on the nature of the incident, Bayer’s security team can respond to mitigate the threat.
When DroneDog is not on a security mission, it returns to its DogHouse, an enclosed case. The DogHouse is installed outside on Bayer’s grounds and enables protection from the elements while allowing the DroneDog to rapidly recharge its batteries for its next mission.
The success of Bayer’s first deployment of DroneDog at one of its Hawaiian facilities prompted the company to expand deployments to other facilities on the islands and California. By supplementing human security teams with security robots, Bayer has been able to enhance monitoring of its facilities with more patrols, reduced staffing issues while improving employee safety, reduced environmental impact by eliminating the number of vehicle patrols required per day, and reduced overall security operational costs.
In addition, the DroneDog is providing Bayer with video historic video footage of security incidents for post-event analysis and any necessary security audits in the future.
For more information, visit asylonrobotics.com.
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