Autonomous Security Robots technologies trends and markets

Rajesh Uppal June 16, 2024 Industry, Security, Unmanned Comments Off on Autonomous Security Robots technologies trends and markets 378 Views

Introduction

Terrorist activities, especially those involving suicide bombers, wreak havoc, causing widespread death and destruction. Responding to such incidents poses challenges for first responders, with infrastructure damage hindering rescue efforts. Drones are emerging as crucial tools in counter-terrorism and disaster response, offering unique capabilities and minimizing risks associated with human intervention.

Robots and Security

A robot, is any automatically operated machine that replaces human effort, though it may not resemble human beings in appearance or perform functions in a humanlike manner. A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. The branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing is robotics.

Security robots are autonomous robotic systems designed to perform their tasks without human intervention. Security robots enable security personnel to detect potential threats, take a close-in first look from a safe distance, and provide detailed information about the threat to take preventative measures. Different Security robot types include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ( commonly known as a drone) is an aircraft without a human pilot on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS); which include a UAV, a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two. The flight of UAVs may operate with various degrees of autonomy: either under remote control by a human operator or autonomously by onboard computers referred to as an autopilot.

An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is a vehicle that operates while in contact with the ground and without an onboard human presence. They are the land counterparts of marine and aerial unmanned vehicles. All of these vehicles play integral roles in enhancing performance, efficiency, and safety across various applications, including military and civilian.

Security robots can help enhance the capabilities of security professionals. Far from replacing them, they can help them with other more boring and time-consuming tasks, so they can focus on more important tasks.

Intelligent security robotics can identify problems that may go unnoticed by humans, tracking people and assets, patrolling physical areas, or recording data. Unlike safety professionals, autonomous robots do not suffer from stress or fatigue and can work for longer periods of time. This makes them the perfect backup in cases of human error. Surveillance is ensured 24/7, with minimal need for human intervention.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can travel long distances, have an excellent vantage for seeing large areas, and have easier lines of sight for communications. In many ways, aerial vehicles are easier to build, deploy, and control. Some jobs, however, must be done from the ground. UGVs have the potential to carry heavyweight payloads, to look inside buildings and under tree canopies, to persist for days, and to operate in all weather conditions. They also occupy ground: in some cases, the physical and visible presence of an armed unit on the ground is itself important.

Generally, the vehicle will have a set of sensors to observe the environment, and will either autonomously make decisions about its behavior or pass the information to a human operator at a different location who will control the vehicle through teleoperation. There are a wide variety of UGVs in use today. Predominantly these vehicles are used to replace humans in hazardous situations, such as handling explosives and in bomb disabling vehicles, where additional strength or smaller size is needed, or where humans cannot easily go. They are also used in industries such as agriculture, mining and construction.

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Robots Applications

One of the major trends in the autonomous security robot market is the increasing demand for these robots. This is driven by the growing concern over security threats in various sectors, such as retail, transportation, and manufacturing. With the rise in crime rates and security breaches, businesses and governments are looking for advanced solutions to improve security measures, and autonomous security robots are proving to be a viable option.

These vehicles have been used in several types of applications like surveillance, infrastructure inspection, fire fighting, search and rescue, agriculture, border patrol, scientiﬁc experiments, and mapping. Communication, sensor and control techniques have evolved over the past few decade that has led to the development of a wide range of UAVs varying in shape,size, conﬁguration, and characteristics. The common types of UAVs are ﬁxed wing UAVs, Quad-rotors and helicopters at different scales (large UAVs or miniature vehicles or microaerial vehicle).

Drones in Counter-Terrorism and Emergency Response: Drones are increasingly employed in mapping, photographing, and assessing damage post-terror attacks and disasters. In scenarios where buildings collapse and responders risk their lives, drones play a vital role without risking human lives. The utilization of drones introduces efficiency and safety, aiding in managing chaos effectively.

In defence and security, they have automated our dull, dirty and dangerous jobs and free humans to focus on higher-value activities. Militaries are replacing soldiers with robots.

Automated Security Robots Technology trends

Security robots are automated guards that rely on artificial intelligence (AI), streaming video, and other connected technologies to surveil and perform security tasks. They are equipped with high-definition (HD) cameras, electric motors, and modern high-capacity batteries.

Researchers focus on enhancing sensor processing capabilities, introducing autonomy, and connecting drones into collaborative swarms. These trends are pivotal for organizations involved in counter-terrorism, emergency response, and homeland defense.

Moreover, the development of new technologies has also significantly improved the capabilities of these robots. Presently, they can be deployed on challenging terrains and environments to perform surveillance and other actions based on analytics. The inclusion of different sensors in security robots has improved the capabilities of robots in analyzing their environment and providing more reliable data.

Sensor Processing Advancements: Drones now feature multispectral imaging, combining electro-optical, infrared, and Lidar sensors. This enables disaster responders to gain comprehensive situational awareness, aiding in disaster area characterization, survivor identification, and efficient triage. Artificial intelligence enhances data processing for improved disaster prediction, damage assessment, and survivor searches.

Autonomous security robots (ASR)

Another trend is the advancements in technology, which is driving the development of more advanced autonomous security robots. The development and emergence of technologies in wireless communications, AI, and robotics have seen security and surveillance solutions evolve into a new generation of autonomous security robots. An autonomous mobile robot is a type of robot that can understand and navigate an environment independently.

With the rapid pace of technological innovation, we can expect to see improvements in the sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms that enable these robots to detect potential threats and take appropriate actions. This will further enhance the effectiveness of autonomous security robots, making them even more valuable in improving security measures.

ASRs use a combination of tools for data collection including high-definition, infrared and thermal cameras. They can collect essential data about safety and security and also assist with other operational tasks such as inventory counts, compliance audits, and more.

Greater Autonomy: Increasing autonomy in drones reduces the burden on human operators. Autonomously navigating predetermined routes, drones monitor disaster areas for survivors and infrastructure damage. Autonomous drones, both ground and aerial, contribute to decontamination after chemical, biological, or radiological incidents, ensuring safety without human intervention.

They use a sophisticated system of sensors, AI, and Machine Learning to plan routes and interpret the best option, without relying on electrical wires or predefined paths. Robots can be programmed to patrol a set scheduled route or sent on ad-hoc missions and avoid obstacles using 3D scanning technology. Some drones are enabled with infrared illumination to allow them to navigate in poorly lit areas.

The data from cameras and sensors can be recorded and stored in the cloud or using an on-premises solution, based on customer need. When using the cloud-based system, it can be easily and securely accessed remotely, reducing the need for an on-site staff presence.

This new generation of robots is equipped with cameras and sensors, so they can dodge obstacles while navigating, employing navigation techniques to slow down, stop or recalculate the route without collisions. ASRs rely on built-in navigation systems to effectively move around an area. This navigation system can be GPS-based whilst outdoors and use contour or visual-based navigation for indoor, GPS-deprived environments. Using change detection and predictive analytics, ASRs identify and assess potential threats in real-time, minimizing human bias and eliminating false alarms.

Autonomous security robots have the ability to move in complex environments, detecting and reporting anomalies in the environment. Their sensors and cameras allow them not to lose their balance, even when moving through complex terrain. With improvements in 5G networks, robots can traverse even larger and more complex areas.

Automated security robots are usually provided as part of a Robots as a Service (RaaS) solution. RaaS is a rapidly expanding solution to business needs, expected by ABI research to reach 1.3m units per year by 2026. These solutions normally provide the necessary equipment and software, take care of integration, and provide ongoing support.

The limited battery life of UUVs necessitates human interference for charging purposes. Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries used in UUVs have a slower degradation rate and less leakage probability at the time of accidents than Li-ion batteries. This leads to the increased use of NiMH batteries in high-speed UUVs. The onboard sensors used in UUVs improve their capability to carry electronic equipment for imaging and monitoring applications. They also reduce the power consumption rate of onboard electronics. For instance, WiBotic (US) offers underwater wireless power and battery intelligence solutions. Kongsberg Maritime (Norway) offers EELUME AUV, which can be permanently deployed on the seabed owing to its underwater charging capability. The adoption of these solutions can help UUV operators reduce the effort required to swap old batteries with new ones during continuous underwater operations.

The reliability of security robots is of critical importance in various defense applications. Failures in these robots can be classified into design failures, technology failures, manufacturing failures, environmental failures, and operational failures. Effective precautionary measures and contingency plans are required in the case of a failure. Prior arrangements need to be made to transport the broken-down security robots back to the base station. The unreliability of security robots, in terms of their functionality, restricts their use in various military and covert operations as this can result in the transfer and loss of confidential data and makes it susceptible to exploitation by enemy forces. Currently, the reliability of UGVs can be increased only with significantly high financial investments. For instance, the Mars Rover, which is a one-of-its-kind sophisticated UGV, has high reliability, but it is used for special applications such as space exploration missions. In the coming years, the maintenance and repair of security robots are expected to gain importance as improvements in their reliability are expected to take a long time.

Drone Cooperation in Swarm Technology: Drones are forming swarms, collaborating to achieve shared objectives. In disaster response, drone swarms conduct coordinated searches over vast areas, especially in high-risk zones. This collaboration enhances efficiency and safety, with drones equipped with different sensors, reducing false positives. Cooperative drones also aid in disaster recovery activities such as cleanup and disinfection.

Security Robot Market and trends

The Security Robot Market size is estimated at USD 15.70 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 29.65 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 13.57% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The major drivers of the market include the growing adoption of security robots for commercial and residential applications, rising emphasis on security at national or regional levels, increasing investments and spending on defense by countries globally, and surging demand for autonomous systems that make real-time monitoring smarter.

They assist in reporting, monitoring, investigating, detecting intruders, and patrolling surveillance areas. As they are reliable, incorruptible, and cost-efficient compared to security guards, security robots are extensively utilized in numerous establishments, such as malls, parking lots, and schools or campuses across the globe.

Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and inflating number of cases, there is a significant rise in the adoption of security robots around the world. This can also be attributed to lockdown restrictions imposed by governing agencies of numerous countries and the increasing adoption of social distancing to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Besides this, due to the growing terrorist activities, geopolitical instability, and territorial disputes, there is a considerable rise in security concerns across different countries. This, along with the extensive increase in commercial security expenditure budgets and continuous funding of research and development (R&D) activities, is anticipated to impel the market growth.

Furthermore, leading market players are employing advanced technologies, such as neural networks, that help these robots in learning over time and improving their functionality. They are also incorporating automation capabilities that allow security robots to be deployed on challenging terrains and environments for performing surveillance and other action-based on analytics. This is creating a favorable market outlook.

A third trend in the autonomous security robot market is the integration with other technologies. Companies are now exploring the use of drones and facial recognition technology in combination with autonomous security robots to improve their capabilities. For example, drones can provide a bird’s eye view of a location, while facial recognition technology can identify potential threats more accurately. The integration of these technologies will make autonomous security robots even more effective in detecting and mitigating security threats.

Overall, these trends in the autonomous security robot market are driving the growth of this emerging technology. As the demand for security solutions continues to increase, and technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more advanced and integrated autonomous security robots in various sectors, providing enhanced security measures for businesses and governments.

The main obstacle to the development of security robots is the growing worry over the invasion of privacy. Security robots have a large number of cameras that can record license plates, view the serial numbers of cell phones, and detect heat in items. The security agency using the robot uses the data.

Market Segments

The Global Security Robot Market is segmented by Type of Robot (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Unmanned Ground Vehicle, and Autonomous UnderwaterVehicle), End-user Industry (Defense and Military, Residential, and Commercial), Application (Spying, Explosive Detection, Patrolling, and Rescue Operations), and Geography.

Different Security robot types include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

UAVs are used in various countries worldwide as an effective measure against terrorist activities. The US army and NATO alliances use these UAVs against terrorist outfits in Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others. Also, several Asian countries such as India, China, and Pakistan, among others are procuring armed drones to strengthen their border security. In addition, different security agencies are using UAVs for the patrolling and surveillance of major public events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), FIFA World Cup, and Euro Cup, among others.

Countries across the world are using forefront technologies to safeguard their borders against underwater threats. In the present global scenario, there has been an increase in threats from pirates, terrorists, and seafarers creating trouble across marine borders. According to the UN, in 2019, an average of 580 ships traversed the ~2,800-kilometer coastline of South Africa, resulting in growing transnational crimes at sea. This, in turn, negatively impacted the revenue of the country, as well as led to the smuggling of small arms, light weapons, and drugs, along with human trafficking. Bringing these crimes under control has led to a significant increase in defense spending worldwide. Defense forces use UUVs for mine countermeasures, rapid environmental assessment, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance activities, harbor protection tasks & port clearance operations, and anti-submarine warfare. Hence, security robots such as UUVs are expected to be increasingly used in the coming years to tackle underwater security threats, thereby leading to the growth of the market globally

Global Security Robot business has Several end-user applications such as: Spying, Explosive Detection Patrolling, Rescue Operations, Other Applications Apart from this, there is a significant rise in the trend of indoor robots worldwide on account of their ability to deliver a range of safety and commercial benefits.

The market for autonomous security robots is growing rapidly, with various sectors adopting this technology. These markets include:

Retail – Retail stores are using autonomous security robots to monitor their stores, detect shoplifting, and reduce shrinkage.
Transportation – Autonomous security robots are being deployed in transportation hubs, such as airports and train stations, to monitor for potential security threats.
Manufacturing – Autonomous security robots are being used in manufacturing facilities to monitor production lines and ensure worker safety.
Government – Governments are deploying autonomous security robots in public spaces, such as parks and city centers, to monitor for potential security threats.

Geographical

North America is among the leading innovators and pioneers in terms of the adoption of robotics and is one of the largest markets. The primary reason for the growth of the market is the increasing adoption of these security robots across numerous industries.

Raising defense spending in North America would fuel the escalation of interest in security robots. Nations worldwide are using cuttingedge technology to defend their borders against underwater threats. The risks posed by pirates, terrorists, and sailors generating issues
across marine and land boundaries have escalated in the contemporary global context. This leads to concerns about revenue trafficking in the nation. Weapons and ammunition, handguns, drugs, and human trafficking continue to occur. So, it seems acceptable to expand defense spending globally in an effort to stop these atrocities.

Due to the increased use of cutting-edge equipment for overseas contingency operations, North America is one of the top regions for the adoption of security robots. The region leads the world in both spending and technological advancements, and it has deployed a substantial number of security robots. In the US, there is a huge market for robots that are used for security and surveillance. Canada recently made considerable investments in the creation of security robots.

The security robots market size in Asia Pacific was USD 8,411.3 million in 2021, which is projected to reach USD 22,949.5 million by 2027; growing at the highest CAGR of 19.7% from 2022 to 2027. The major factors driving the growth of the security robots market in the region are increasing defense spending by countries such as Australia, South Korea, and India, while Japan’s spending remained steady. Vietnam, which has had tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, increased its military expenditure. Asia Pacific is one of the potential markets for unmanned vehicles as countries such as China, India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, among others are actively focusing on strengthening their military systems. The geopolitical dynamics of the region play a major role in the measures taken by major economies such as India and China toward the enhancement of military capabilities and strength.

The following are some of the most prominent market players: Leonardo SPA, Thales SA, SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd, QinetiQ Group plc, BAE Systems PLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kongsberg Gruppen, Elbit Systems Limited, Recon Robotics Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Cobham PLC, SMP Robotics, Aerovironment Inc., Boston Dynamics Inc. , RoboTex Inc. and Knight Scope Inc.

Conclusion

Autonomous security robots are an emerging technology that is transforming the security industry. With their advanced sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms, these robots are capable of detecting potential security threats and taking appropriate actions to mitigate them. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more advanced autonomous security robots with improved effectiveness and integration with other technologies. With the increasing demand for enhanced security measures, the market for autonomous security robots is set to grow rapidly across various sectors.