Drones taking off in South Africa

Drones can offer a non-lethal alternative to surveillance and deterrence methods employed by private security companies.

This is according to iTOO Risk Solutions drone expert Kopano Tholo, who spoke to Cape Talk after several amendments were proposed for the Private Security Industry Regulation Act.

Police minister Senzo Mchunu recently proposed imposing stricter limitations on private security companies’ use of firearms and non-lethal weapons.

The changes include restricting firms’ use of firearms, stun guns, tear gas, water cannons, sponge grenades, rubber bullets, or “any other weapon that could harm civilians”.

Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann has said that these amendments could “undermine the stability and effectiveness of the private security industry and that of South African citizens.”

However, Tholo says the private security industry can benefit from using drone technology to enhance the safety of their operations and the general public.

“Drones allow for surveillance without escalation as they reduce the need for immediate physical presence,” Tholo told Cape Talk.

“For instance, they are equipped with thermal imaging, high-zoom cameras, and artificial intelligence analytics that can monitor high-risk areas in real-time — night or day.”

Tholo says this is particularly useful given the justification for these proposed regulations in certain circumstances.

He argued that confrontations between armed responders and perpetrators can often result in shots being fired, adding that the new regulations are in the best interest of the public.

Regarding AI integration, Tholo says that drones can be equipped with AI models that can detect the movements of specific objects.

He said this can trigger alerts around specific parameters, which can be preset.

“For instance, AI detection can aid patrollers or drone operators to identify specific equipment or goods being carried into a mall or stadium,” Tholo says.

“This allows police or patrollers to be alert as to what the situation is on the ground.”

Border security drone tech

The Border Management Agency recently unveiled new drones that will be deployed over the Easter weekend.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the Evo Max 4N and Evo Max 4T drones will be deployed at four border posts.

He also said they will be moved to different parts of the country when needed.

Schreiber said that the country will train eight drone pilots, two per drone, who will work in shifts to ensure the devices are operated around the clock.

While he mentioned that the drones are BMA’s technology, they resemble Autel Robotics’ Evo Max 4N and Evo Max 4T drones.

The drones have similar features to what Tholo said could benefit private security firms.

These include thermal detection, which will detect individuals taking cover behind objects, and long-range zoom, enabling their cameras to see two kilometres into the distance.

They can also take off within 15 seconds of detecting a disturbance and travel at 43km per hour.

Schreiber said that one of the drones features night vision technology, which is ideal for night surveys and surveillance to assist with operations in the dark.

“Regarding the night features, the 4N is deliberately designed for night operations. The starlight camera allows it to operate in lighting conditions as low as 0.0001 lux,” he said.

“It has object identification and tracking, which means that artificial intelligence is used to program the drone to detect certain objects.”

The drones also have autonomous pathfinding, meaning they can navigate their environment even if obstacles are in the way.

The Minister said that the country will train eight drone pilots, two per drone, who will work in shifts to ensure the devices are operated around the clock.