# BVLOS-Approved Mobilization and Application of Perimeter Security in a Residential Estate - Event: NestGen ’25 - Published: March 7, 2025 - Length: 35:50 - Watch: https://nestgen.org/library/watch/u8dr8WwXbWA/ > The transcript of a recorded NestGen session, for reading or for use with an AI tool. It comes from the video's > captions; automatic captions can mishear names and terms. ## Transcript **[0:20]** Good morning everybody. How is everyone doing? Welcome to NestGen 2025. I'm Nanat Berry, your host today, and I lead business development in the African region here at Flightway Base . I am absolutely thrilled to have you all here with us today. How is everyone doing? Be sure to leave a quick note in the chat to tell me where you're participating from. Whether they are participating from South Africa, Europe, or anywhere in the world. So please post about what excites you most today and don't forget to share your opinions on the " NestGen wall of love" using the hashtag #NestGen. Today's session is about BOS-approved drones and how they are reshaping perimeter security in residential communities in South Africa. Security threats are common in residential communities and are evolving rapidly. Traditional surveillance methods often struggle with response times. They often have false **[1:21]** alarms. There are many blind spots and, above all, the greatest sin ends up being human error. With BOS-approved autonomous drones, we are seeing a paradigm shift in real-time surveillance, automated threat detection, and incident response. We have our esteemed speakers here today. We have Wilmer, who is the general manager at Hennis Drone Repair and Training. We have Michael Lever here, who is the director of Metagraded. There's David Delma, who is the managing director of 24/7 Security Solutions. And of course, we also have Stefan, who is the operations director at 247 Drone. Before we dive into the session and hear from our esteemed speakers, I just want to set a few ground rules for all of us . If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the Q& A box at any time. If you go to the left, you can see questions and answers. You can simply put them there. As soon as the session is over, we will certainly return to them. Please participate and share your opinions **[2:26]** in the chat. Any security challenges you may be facing, if they are similar to what you have experienced in the United States, Europe, or anywhere else you are participating. You can also post some excerpts from it. You can post on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and so on. But don't forget to use the hashtag #nest. I also want to extend a huge thank you to all of our sponsors who made this event possible. You guys are really moving the industry forward. Having said all that, and without anything further from me , let's dive straight into today's session. Let's discuss how you gentlemen here were able to change the world of security operations in South Africa. I'll hand the floor over to you. Thanks. Thanks. Not just **[3:27]** opening the presentation. Yes, Nina, thank you so much for having us on this platform. A huge thank you to FlytBase. Hmm, I think a brief history of how we evolved as a company to get to where we are today. 247 Security is a leading security services provider in South Africa. Currently, we employ approximately three thousand five hundred security agents in a traditional setting. Traditional, in the sense that we offer contracted security or labor-based solutions, in addition to an effective command center that integrates technology. A few years ago, we began actively deploying drones in a traditional format. We used them as first response mechanisms in the field. And, over the years, we realized that the use of drone technology was evolving; **[4:32]** We started operating a ROC with BVLOS operations and acquired a drone services company, which evolved to offer a docking station drone solution. which will show how we have evolved in this space . I'll pass the word to Henny to explain where he fits in. Good morning everybody. David, thank you for the introduction. Nard and everyone at FlytBase, thank you for the opportunity and the platform. I would like to briefly introduce HDRT. Our business started in 2018, primarily as a DJI repair center. Since then, we have become a preferred reseller and service center for DJI , especially in the corporate and docking segments. We **[5:35]** operate in South Africa and also in much of the African continent. As I said, we are authorized DJI resellers for consumer, corporate, and agricultural products. And we have a certified technical team , with remote pilot licenses and qualifications in the maintenance of unmanned aerial systems from the South African Civil Aviation Authority . But thank you very much for receiving us and we look forward to this presentation. So, what did we actually learn, and what lessons did we absorb ? Certainly in our market, most of our services offer some type of perimeter security solution . In South Africa, there is a strong trend towards gated communities, fenced business **[6:37]** properties, and large perimeter infrastructure surrounding commercial environments. Currently, the traditional service we provide consists of having teams on the ground that conduct effective patrols in these areas. Well, but in the last year or so, we obviously started implementing the DJI Dock and, most notably, we've been using FlytBase as an integrator in our control room. We see great opportunities to leverage this technology to effectively control these borders and perimeters. And certainly in the residential sector, because here we have enormous properties that need to be protected from these types of environments. Therefore, golf courses, business parks, huge residential complexes, in addition to leading to the commercial sector, the mining sector and the agricultural sector. **[7:37]** They all have large perimeters, and we see that implementing docked drone solutions gives us great flexibility and, obviously, the ability to integrate this into our command center through FlytBase as a platform. Mark, next slide, please. Obviously, what are the operational benefits that we have already experienced? Certainly, the traditional deployment of drones here for first aid requires many pilots, in the sense that everyone is in the field. You know, the cost opportunities of scaling this operation to a command center are immense. We also saw the integration of this technology into the command center giving us the flexibility to implement features more effectively. Obviously we are experimenting with AI integration, which Michael will discuss **[8:41]** shortly, but certainly having the integration capabilities in a command center and the flexibility to deploy features in the environment with FlytBase and the docking solution is key. We see this as an early adoption stage here in the country, but there are certainly enormous opportunities in many sectors, not just the residential sector. Mark, next slide please. Thank you very much, Mike. I am very grateful for this opportunity and, regarding the BVLOS regulatory landscape, it is an interesting one. Regarding the approval process, it can be quite intensive, specifically the development of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). **[9:45]** Therefore, with the development of SOPs, there is a lot of back and forth between the operator and the regulatory body. Once these SOPs are approved, the next phase is the demonstration phase with airspace procedures and risk management . In South Africa, we have to request flexible use of airspace when operating within a CPR . So, for each BVLOS flight, we must issue a NOTAM, which is a notice to aircrew. These NOTAMs are also seen by manned aviation. Keep in mind that these NOTAMs don't necessarily have to be for each specific BVLOS flight, but can cover the entire BVLOS operation period. Let's say the BVLOS operation lasts for a period of 3 weeks. Only one note for this specific period needs to be filed. Part of our approval process is obviously the qualification and training of the crew. But **[10:49]** where it becomes really interesting is in the context of the remote docking station. And I want to add to my previous point about training. We had to develop our own training methodology for BVLOS operations. There was no script. We had to develop it from scratch. Therefore, I also want to extend a big thank you to you and your team for responding to all of our various calls and questions as we developed these training methodologies. We also needed to develop a real-world case study for the South African Civil Aviation Authority. Our regulator lacked context on docking station operations within a safety environment. So, we had to rigorously test this proof of concept. We had to analyze factors such as access to the docking station. Considering the docking **[11:51]** station, the pilot is not necessarily in the same area. They could be many, many kilometers away. So, we had to develop aspects of monitoring the mooring station. For example, CCTV cameras with virtual fences, etc. We needed to analyze the communication and electricity, and then, obviously, the backup systems for communication and electricity, redundancy, redundancy, and I can't stress this enough: redundancy is built into the entire system. But a very interesting part of all this development was the RoIP system, radio over internet protocol. So, we needed to develop a system where the pilot could transmit and receive airband messages , on the appropriate airband frequency where the aircraft is operating, not necessarily where the pilot is stationed, because consider this again: the area **[12:56]** of ​​ operations and the pilot's station in remote docking station operations can be hundreds , even thousands of kilometers away. So, we had to develop this system where radio over internet protocol gives us the opportunity to transmit and receive frequencies at the appropriate frequency where the aircraft is operating. And then we needed to prove that this system works. We needed to give a demonstration to our civil aviation authority . And the secret, I would say, is to ensure that the system is not an autonomous system. The aviation industry is quite adept at automated operations. Many commercial aircraft fly with autopilot, etc. But autonomous operations without any pilot supervision at this current stage are still a big no-no for regulators. **[14:00]** So, we proved to our regulator that it is an automated system where pilots can take manual control of the aircraft during any phase of flight. And for that reason, I also want to extend a big thank you to our South African civil aviation regulator. They really helped us and also wanted to know more about the system, and that's how we got approval for remote docking station operations in the BVLOS context. Thank you very much, and I'll pass the word to you. Sorry, I just needed to turn on the microphone. Hmm. So, at HDRT, our mission is to provide customers with a functional solution, not just hardware. That's **[15:02]** why we tested numerous software platforms for the DJI Dock. In this specific case, we went through several tests based on support, adaptability, accessibility, and the interface, just to mention a few of the criteria we used; We have determined that FlytBase is a robust and stable platform for integration with DJI Dock 2, especially in public safety environments. Without going into specifics and details, which can be found on the DJI website. I prefer to share some insights about what we experienced operationally and in our tests, for example, flight time. Operationally. We can achieve between 25 and 30 minutes of flight **[16:08]** time, depending on weather conditions. Therefore, it's not exactly as stated in DJI's specifications. But you have an operational flight time of between 25 and 30 minutes. I would also like to mention availability and maintenance. With over 1,200 completed flights and more than 300 hours of flight time, we have managed to maintain an availability level of approximately 99%. in the drone's hardware. I would also like to extend a big thank you to FlytBase on their behalf. They are always ready to help with any problem, and this contributes to the system's 99% availability and readiness. Another thing, I think Stefan mentioned, is redundancy. Although the DJI Dock comes with **[17:15]** a built-in backup battery, many of its features do not work with this battery. Therefore, it was important to provide the dock with its own backup battery and also integrated redundancies regarding the internet connection, since, basically, the docked drone solution only requires two things: a stable power connection and a stable internet connection. These are just some of the points you need to focus on. Uh. Now, regarding operational readiness. We also established, through rigorous testing, that the operational readiness of the DJI Dock 2 system integrated with FlytBase is unparalleled, and the system remained operational long after manual pilots stopped operating due to weather considerations. for example. **[18:16]** I would like to briefly comment on the integrated redundancies and security mechanisms. The DJI Dock, integrated into a robust drone autonomy platform like FlytBase, offers numerous built-in redundancies and safety mechanisms, making the system reliable and giving regulatory bodies, such as the South African Civil Aviation Authority, the peace of mind that remote drone operations can be conducted safely and in a controlled manner. To name just a few, there's the integrated backup battery that ensures the drone can return to base and land safely in the event of a power outage. Another feature, through the FlytBase platform, is that the drone can automatically and safely return to the docking station in case of internet connection failure . **[19:20]** This happens when your backup fails. Well, other redundancies or hardware considerations are the wind speed, rain, temperature, and water immersion sensors. This ensures that the drone is operated remotely and safely, and guarantees that no operation will take place if weather conditions do not permit . Therefore, once again, we return to secure remote operations. Well, through software features offered by FlytBase, such as geofencing and no-fly zones. This allows operators to set up a location for remote flight and modern monitoring , in order to avoid entering no-fly zones and prevent collisions with structures, tall trees, power poles, cables, and so on. **[20:20]** So, I would also like to mention, as a supplier of drone hardware and solutions, that it is absolutely critical to guide and inform potential customers about the service, maintenance, and training requirements for the specific product they wish to purchase, even more so for fixed-installation drone solutions like the Dock. Through our partnership with 24/7 Drone Force, we have clearly established the importance of regular maintenance and servicing of the dock system and the drone to ensure uninterrupted operational readiness . Finally, I would like to emphasize the importance of training drone pilots in the control room, as well as first responders on-site. **[21:21]** It is essential that pilots have in- depth knowledge of the software platform they use, in this case FlytBase, and that first responders on the scene have intermediate hardware knowledge to resolve minor technical issues. Furthermore, when considering deploying a drone dock, it's important to partner with certified dealers and repair centers, such as HDRT, to provide the necessary on-site technical assistance and maintenance, thus ensuring operational readiness. Thank you very much. Next, I would like to give the floor to Michael Lever. Thank you, Wilma. So, as mentioned, when Dock 2 is purchased, it typically arrives as just the dock. **[22:24]** There is no software. Well, it can be operated by remote control, but that's basically it. So, obviously, there are some technical challenges or just technical steps to follow to first get the dock online, not just from a technical standpoint, or primarily a technical one, but also operational and compliance-related, and that's been an interesting journey for us. And, as mentioned earlier, it's not just a case of it working right out of the box. There are many known obstacles to overcome, but at the same time, we face many unknown challenges. I'll just mention a few of them and give a little more detail about them. Firstly, regarding the technical requirements, we have clearly seen that the physical positioning of the dock is fundamental. What we quickly discovered after that is the issue of distance, and that's where BVLOS and **[23:26]** remote operations come in . The area that needs to be covered sometimes extends beyond the visual line of sight and, obviously, in addition to all the certification, there are technical elements that must be taken into consideration . Some of the challenges we encounter in relation to this are signal strength and the operation of the radio signal in the surrounding area. Fortunately, what we 've seen in the flight software is that it offers the necessary guarantees to ensure stable communications or, if not, as David and Stefan mentioned, there are the necessary safety mechanisms in place should they fail. For example, we've seen certain locations where the signal can drop or, uh, be interrupted entirely. What we saw is that the drone itself can continue with the mission. But when the battery, for example, starts to drop to a certain critical point, it will automatically return to **[24:30]** the docking station. As Stefan mentioned, the radio protocol over IP was a challenge due to the need to transmit from that specific location on an airband frequency . Therefore, implementation— first the search, but the implementation of a RoIP solution—has been fundamental, but this also concerns the control room and the benefits and requirements of having a centralized control room, offering the ability to view the dock, control the drone, and at the same time remain compliant with the civil aviation authority. So, these are some of the technical requirements. Once we confirmed that the base was correctly implemented and in compliance with the technical requirements, it has been a pleasure to see it operationally functioning, and as David mentioned earlier, until now many of the systems were manual. This meant that someone needed to get to the location in their pickup truck . They needed **[25:33]** to assemble the landing sites and configure them. But, considering the mobilization time and, if you take drones into account for first response, the time spent was quite significant; By having the base ready and the operator prepared using a platform like FlytBase, this response time is significantly improved. Also from a technical standpoint, there are the connectivity and deployment timeframes. What we've seen is that certain platforms take a considerable amount of time to get the drone ready for flight. So, we also discovered that it takes very little time to actually get the aircraft airborne. Regarding AI-based surveillance and data analytics, that's the next frontier we've identified. It's one thing to implement the solution itself, but providing the operator with relevant processed information is crucial so that they don't have **[26:34]** to sit and focus solely on the screen. He not only needs to worry about flight information and keeping the drone in the air, but now he also needs to start identifying a suspicious vehicle, a suspicious person, or a suspicious situation developing. Through the implementation of AI and analytics, we see a real benefit, and we look forward to seeing this and FlytBase's AI box in operation, as it will, again, greatly facilitate the operator's life and present processed information for both proactive and reactive responses. Speaking of which, what we consider a major benefit are the pre- programmed missions and automated patrol routes . This has been a great, great benefit. There are missions and routes that have been defined according to various criteria, whether based on threats, specific client requests, or even facility inspections or **[27:34]** verification of known critical points . The ability to configure missions to patrol a section of a perimeter to virtually monitor infrastructure, for example. These are the types of proactive patrols that have been defined, and through them, we can now use AI to perform a comparison, for example. For example, the fence patrol sector will conduct an infrastructure inspection, checking how it actually works and then comparing it to the demands tailored to the situation when an incident occurs, to see how it unfolds. In terms of data integration in security operations centers , the ability to integrate this with command centers allows people monitoring cameras, controlling vehicles, and field personnel to now communicate and coordinate the response. Therefore, through platforms like FlytBase, the ability to coordinate all of this has been a major differentiator, ensuring it's not just about the drone in the sky, but also **[28:37]** the ability to coordinate and communicate this to resources on the ground. Touching briefly on cybersecurity and what we have in South Africa, the protection of personal information, obviously, now generates all this video information and alerts . A key point is to ensure that everything complies with cybersecurity and data protection standards. Therefore, we have seen that the necessary mechanisms exist to ensure that information is stored, accessed, and transmitted securely. Regarding the future, scalability is obviously ideal, but at the same time, the ability to manage multiple bases or aircraft is quite important. That's where the next challenge lies: in terms of managing this and ensuring it operates correctly and efficiently. You can't have multiple aircraft in the sky without them being managed properly. **[29:38]** Furthermore, as Stefan mentioned, the policy behind this aims for wider adoption and a much more automated process. But this seems to be underway with the various authorities, and as we see the prevalence of aircraft and bases in South Africa, I believe this will become more frequent and accessible. In that regard, the call to action is to encourage condominiums, whether business or residential parks, to consider technology, and also to encourage labor and security providers to explore the options, understand the technology, and seek engagement. These are the types of steps we see as necessary, and obviously, approval is also fundamental. It's no use having just the aircraft without a platform. It is also necessary to have the relevant compliance so that operators can **[30:39]** operate within the laws of the country. That being said , here are our contact details and I'd like to move on to the Q&A session. Nina, anything else ? Okay. Perfect. Thank you very much for the excellent presentation, Michael, David, Wilmer, and Stefan. Well, the floor is open for a question and answer session. We already have a question in the Q& A section. For everyone listening, if you have any further questions, feel free to send them in the Q&A section or simply in the chat box. There is a separate questions and answers section. You can also send it via chat. Feel free to ask your questions. This is a question from Winund. Winund asks: " What types of detection are used as the first trigger to activate the drones? Are cameras, fence sensors, or other devices commonly used in **[31:40]** the area where you operate?" "Do you connect the GPS location of the incident to help the drone reach the area?" So, thank you. Excuse me, do you want to speak or should I answer? It's up to you. Yes. Michael, are you going to answer, or David, are you going to take responsibility? I'll answer from a technical standpoint, and then operationally, David, if you'd like. Well, in terms of detection, that varies depending on the location and what systems have been deployed there. We saw a combination of analyses, and even, in some cases, electric fences divided into certain zones, for example, which allows us to combine the geographic aspect, the geolocation, and then incorporate that via commands within the FlytBase. Therefore, it's a combination, whether it's through analysis defining, for example, "Here 's a camera pointed at...", sending that to the drone **[32:44]** to say " Start at this point," and then processing that, or, as I mentioned, you could have an electric fence, a panic activation, or even a manual report that would mean "Go to such and such location," which would then initiate the action. Yes, I think it's just a warning about the technology. I think that, as we are an integrator for the control room currently, from these various locations of all the technology that Michael mentioned. We have been very cautious about not automating all of these processes yet. Therefore, we are still using a manual override from a deployment perspective. We are receiving all of these alerts at our command center from several different locations, and we are still having the operator physically go to the site on demand. And this happens simply because we haven't done enough integration testing yet. Okay. Thank you very much for that, um, David and Michael. Hmm, are there any more **[33:50]** questions here? Okay. What lessons were learned from implementing Beos security drones in real-world residential communities? Hmm, I think I can answer that question too. Well, as I mentioned at the beginning of our presentation, our country is still an early adopter of this technology. Hmm, so I guess we're writing the script. Hmm, we don't have all the lessons and learnings yet, but we certainly see enormous opportunities. Hmm, I think the fact that there's visibility or a platform in the sky assisting rescuers is a huge benefit. I think that as more clients begin to adopt this technology, we become more operationally focused on using it as an immediate response tool . Hmm, I think we'll see many more **[34:53]** people adopting this technology much faster. Hmm, but as I said, this is an early stage of adoption in our country. Very good. Thank you very much for that, David. Hmm, seeing as there are no other questions here, I believe we are nearing the end of the session. Hmm, thank you very much for your time, Messrs. David Wilmer, Michael, and Stefan. It was a pleasure to hear everything you shared with us here today. Hmm, I'm the host Dinard Berry and I hope everyone has a good day. Thanks. Thanks. Thank you very much. Thanks. Bye, bye. Bye, bye.