GXO Logistics has announced that it has deployed advanced air and ground security robotics at one of its major US distribution centres in Clayton, Indiana and plans to increase deployment of automated security systems across other sites within the next year.
The DroneDog and DroneSentry duo, integrated with the DroneCore security platform from Asylon, are security technologies designed to provide data and onsite activity updates that can detect potential issues in real time and simultaneously report them to security teams.
“We launched the DroneDog and DroneSentry advanced security system at a customer’s facility that is more than 1 million square feet and requires a 24/7 security presence to safeguard our people and the products,” said Thomas Nelson, senior director of security at GXO.
“The combination of air and ground robotics gives us superb live video feed, including infrared vision for nighttime patrols, that we can operate, evaluate and respond to in real time.”
GXO has already used the robotic assets to conduct more than 12,000 patrols or first-responder missions, to investigate and clear alarms, as well as to complete video-verified security audits. The technology is designed to detect potential issues in real time while making the environment safer for team members and securing customer’s products.
The aerial drone and ground robot are controllable and can be monitored through a network, enabling associates to more quickly respond to alarms or dangerous events.
According to GXO, automated robots are providing upskilling opportunities for team members as they receive training on how to effectively operate the technology and proactively create safer facilities.
The Asylon DroneDog system is connected wirelessly to the cloud and features a security payload, a weatherised charging station and Boston Dynamics’ Spot platform, an agile mobile robot designed to traverse uneven terrain, climb stairs and autonomously avoid obstacles.
The DroneDog system has logged more than 600 miles on patrol at the GXO facility so far. It works alongside the DroneSentry system, which includes a weatherised base station for autonomous landing and battery swapping.
The two technologies offer different vantage points and can place a camera with a 20x optical zoom where needed, 24 hours a day. Together, they expand security capabilities, covering more area in less time than conventional surveillance methods, said GXO.
Asylon, the developer of DroneCore, also supplies experts who work from a central control room in Pennsylvania to remotely operate the systems and analyse security data collected in real time to keep the space safe and secure for GXO team members.
