The benefits of drones are endless. They provide affordable, flexible solutions to a variety of problems; from reducing the time needed to conduct building inspections to aggregating plant health data from above. While many drone manufacturers have highlighted the automation capabilities of their UAVs, not many go into detail about how powerful the technology becomes when it is fully integrated into an IoT (internet of things) environment. If your business is considering adopting a drone program, understanding what IoT is and how drones can connect to such an environment is crucial to getting the most benefit out of your efforts and investment.
First…What is IoT?
IoT is more than a fancy acronym associated with robots and technology. What is known as “The Internet of Things” encompasses any environment that connects physical objects that have sensors and any type of processing ability, related software, and other technology that connect together to process and exchange data over communication networks, including the internet. A proper IoT environment grants businesses and organizations live insight into real-world data, supporting greater control over business processes and decisions.
Large, global enterprises have long invested in having a sustainable IoT environment in their business—IoT is the hub of automation. Harmonizing the different devices, software, and platforms used across a business allows organization leaders to improve processes, reduce manual operations, and decrease time efforts used within different sectors of the business. In fact, IoT is right at the center of Big Data initiatives, including the use and development of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as large amounts of raw data can be easily collected, processed, and analyzed. At the forefront of any IoT framework are the devices and sensors used to collect data. Behind that, you have the interface or network that connects the devices, and transports collected data. Ultimately, you have the back-end of the IoT environment, where data is stored and processed, be it a cloud or data center.
Leveraging IoT in business is a strategic initiative—if properly coordinated, IoT implementation can reduce costs long term, and support agility in an increasingly complex, competitive, and interconnected market by giving decision-makers the insight necessary to make informed decisions.
What Do Drones Have To Do with IoT?
Working drones sit at the front of an IoT environment. As machines equipped with sensors and processors, drones are used to collect a variety of data, which is then relayed to different platforms or analytics apps. Newer models feature GPS and other geospatial technology, and some even have telecommunication capacities. Drones with thermal sensors can capture heat signatures or changes in weather conditions, providing data on light, heat, and temperature conditions. Intelligent UAVs are becoming increasingly popular for enterprises, particularly in agriculture, surveillance, delivery, inspection, and construction.
For example, a drone used to secure a building might run on an automated schedule. If supported with a high-definition zoom camera payload and connected to face recognition software, the drone can set off alerts, make announcements, or identify threats much faster than traditional methods of surveillance. Combining drones with smart sensors, predictive analytics software, IT intelligence, and facility control systems can lead to better management of facilities.
Construction management is another popular use of drones within an IoT environment. Drones with LiDAR capabilities can inspect and map building structures within minutes, providing detailed information on surrounding areas and the building itself. This data is then processed and used to generate 3D maps or LiDAR sensing images, which are important when calculating high-resolution models of ground elevation with true vertical accuracy. Through the use of cognitive services and IT-related intelligence, control systems, predictive analytics, and smart sensors, facilities management teams can run diagnostics that result in better maintenance, management, and optimization of the building.
How Can You Incorporate a Drone Program Into the IoT Infrastructure?
Proper management of an IoT environment is critical as long-term sustainability and scalability are among the primary focuses for having a well-connected IoT framework. Many organizations hire network architects to help define and map the interaction between different network and authentication devices, user roles, access points, and cloud infrastructures. Adding new devices to that framework will require support from a designated IT team.
Considering that the purpose of a drone program is to optimize operations and support automation, you want to ensure there is a seamless integration of new drones, both software and hardware, into the existing IoT environment. A successful drone program is a compilation of software, both internal and external, hardware, safety and compliance, proper operations management, and great communication between people and devices. When incorporating a new drone fleet into your business, you need to be aware of the different steps and working pieces that will go into a complete implementation, including third-party software, device integration and activation, and even LTE plans for telecommunication capabilities.
Depending on the use case for your drone program and the data platforms you choose to implement, you may have to support constant API integrations so your business can easily pull and process the data recovered from the drones. Organizations should have clear standards and operating procedures for data management, as this will affect how the raw data is communicated across the various platforms used by different departments within the organization. Without standardization and proper data management, your organization will have incorrect data and mismatched fields, which are difficult to correct down the line. Cybersecurity should also be a priority, as your organization may be collecting sensitive data that can be exposed or leaked when sharing across third-party applications; having a security protocol or additional encryption within the IoT environment of your business is a must-have.
UAV & IoT In a Nutshell
Automation is almost always synonymous with high margins and greater ROI, and a fully automated drone program can help your organization reap those rewards. If your goal is to automate your business, having a clear understanding of your business’ IoT and its current setup is crucial to seeing the long-term success of a UAV program.
Drone Nerds has helped countless organizations set up successful UAV programs, and has worked with both internal and external IoT frameworks consultants throughout the implementation process.
Connect with our experts at experts@dronenerds.com to get started on your journey.
