ADT Commercial, a security integrator and provider of commercial security, fire, and life safety services in the US, unveiled its new EvoGuard intelligent autonomous guarding solutions brand at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.
EvoGuard by ADT Commercial is a new suite of intelligent, autonomous guarding solutions and services aimed at helping to cost-effectively enhance corporate security programs, while responding to high turnover rates and ongoing labor shortages in the guarding market.
EvoGuard will use artificial intelligence and augmented reality in combination with a fleet of autonomous humanoid robots and drones for comprehensive security surveillance in a wide variety of commercial areas.
“The launch of the EvoGuard brand marks a significant milestone in ADT Commercial’s expansion into the guarding market,” said Dan Bresingham, president of ADT Commercial. “We’ve long kept a finger to the pulse of the industry and we’re focused on identifying opportunities to innovate in ways that are meaningful and totally customer-driven. Given the trends we’ve seen in recent years and the challenges our customers are facing in keeping their guard forces adequately staffed, we recognized an incredible opportunity to usher in a new era in guarding through technology.”
With EvoGuard by ADT Commercial, the goal is for organizations to be able to effectively enhance their security programs by deploying intelligent autonomous guarding solutions at their facilities. Capabilities currently in development would allow organizations to:
- Efficiently automate routine tasks, including 24/7 patrols with constant alertness
- Capture evidence of disturbances or unauthorized personnel for faster alarm verification
- Quickly respond to high-risk or hazardous scenarios without risking human life
- Cost-effectively increase surveillance while reducing labor costs and overcoming staffing shortages
The solutions are targeted for commercialization in 2023 and will be specifically tailored for enterprise-level and high-security environments.
Humanoid Robots
In partnership with Norway-based robotics company, Halodi Robotics, the humanoid robot is being developed to:
- Conduct autonomous patrols in commercial facilities
- Perform two-way communications between the public and an operator
- Open doors and operate elevators
- Interact with employees
- Inspect and remove hazards or obstructions using fully articulated hands
- Complete various tasks requiring fine motor-skilled actions
- Capture 360-degree view of patrol areas via a robust camera system
- Self-dock and self-charge at designated stations
The robot will also be able to be operated in avatar mode by using a virtual reality system. This feature will create a live telepresence environment for a human controller to remotely interact with real-life surroundings through the robot. This capability could further enable cost savings in the future for organizations by reducing the dependencies of having to send personnel to a remote, high-risk, or potentially dangerous location in response to an event.
The humanoid robot is currently in its piloting phase, with anticipated commercialization targeted for late 2023.
Autonomous Indoor Drones
In collaboration with Israel-based Indoor Robotics, the goal of the Tando autonomous indoor drone, currently in development, would be to function as an additional layer of 24/7 surveillance to patrol commercial facilities. Primary features being developed include:
- The ability to program a destination or set an autonomous patrol route at routine intervals
- Option to program alerts from external sensors to trigger investigatory flights and interact with security incidents in virtually real-time
- Always-on video feed to provide 360-degree surveillance—whether in flight or monitoring from a docking station
- Onboard thermal cameras, people detection capabilities, and object avoidance analytics to alert and respond to potential hazards
- Intuitive user interface with indoor-only capabilities, so users do not need to be experienced drone pilots or certified by the FAA to manage a drone fleet or conduct patrols
The autonomous indoor drone is currently in its piloting phase, with anticipated commercialization targeted for later in 2023.
“By incorporating the kind of revolutionary technology we’re releasing under the EvoGuard brand into their security programs, commercial organizations will be able to work more safely and efficiently,” said Ed Bacco, vice president of emerging technologies for ADT Commercial. “The addition of humanoid robots and autonomous indoor drones means that these solutions can take on the typical security guarding tasks of observe-and-report, while being able to capture unbiased, critical data in an emergency and engage with the environment in a way that doesn’t risk human life. It’s a game changer and what we view as a cost-effective response to the ongoing challenges many have been experiencing with staffing guard forces.”