Annoyance to pets
What about dogs setting off the Sunflower sensors?
Cool system, I can see a successful future for this type of system.
Startup Sunflower Labs' Autonomous Drone Security System
Published Dec 11, 2018 15:34 PM
Startup Sunflower Labs is claiming a unique design on a home security system, combining autonomous drones and 'Sunflower' sensors. Imagine an intruder tries to break into your home and your automated security drone suddenly appears above them and starts following them and scares them away. That is Sunflower's aim. They are planning a mid- to late- 2019 rollout specifically targeting high-end residential.
Based on our interview with one of the company's co-founders we examine:
- Company background
- Ramping up to full production
- How it works
- Roll out strategy
- Pricing
- Market strategy
- Potential for 3rd party video monitoring
- Potential roadblocks to adoption
Company **********
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How ** *****
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Roll *** ********
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Market ********
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Potential *** *** ***** ***** **********
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Potential ********** ** ********
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Ramping ** ** **** **********
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********* ** ** ***** **** *** party ************ ** **** **** *** help **** **** ** ** ******, Pachikov *********:
** *** ****** * ******** *******. We’re ** *** *********** ********* **** we **** ** ***** *** *** hardware. *****’* ******* ** *** ****** that ***** *** **** *****. *********, all *** ********** *** **** ** ourselves, *** ** *** ** ********** with ******* ************* ********.
Vote / ****
Comments (19)
UE
Undisclosed End User #1
Dec 11, 2018Dan Gelinas
Dec 11, 2018I heard back from Alex at Sunflower Labs. The Sunflower is equipped with PIR sensors that can be adjusted. Here is what he said when I asked him if there were thresholds that could be set to ensure pet immunity:
The user can choose what to be alerted to and how often.
U
Undisclosed #2
Dec 11, 2018The user can choose what to be alerted to and how often.
Said every PIR sensor company ever.
Dan Gelinas
Dec 11, 2018Hello Undisclosed #1. Thank you for the question! I was unable to find any information on their site re: pet immunity. I've reached out to Alex at Sunflower to ask the question and will update when I hear back.
Mark Palka
Dec 11, 2018I think this system will be fairly pricey the recharging hanger as I understand is about $15K now, there are some competitors emerging but still too high. As for the snow issue that would not be a huge problem but freezing rain would be a issue. To me this is a system that would need to be less than 5K wholesale. Any integrator would need to invest some money in service training etc. and as I see it this is a system that requires more service than the alternative. Expensive homes would get a whole lot more mileage out of SMP robot or a LOOMO that could do the same thing at a ground level. You could even go more traditional and use cameras that could cover the entire property, tied into remote sensors and voice down at a lower cost. This would be great for a rich guy who has too much money the way its being developed is not a killer application but I do hope they find success
U
Undisclosed #2
Dec 11, 2018No mention of FAA regulations on this? Has the FAA stopped requiring line of sight operation, night time waivers, and lightened the regulations around commercial use?
Dan Gelinas
Dec 11, 2018Hello Undisclosed #2. I asked Alex about FAA regulations and here is what he said:
Currently the regulations will limit what we can do, especially with regard to BVLOS [Beyond Visual Line of Sight]. For now we plan to apply for waivers, and FAA seems to be very receptive to doing that, especially since our drone is very light, flies relatively low, and geo-fences to just your property.
There are also US-wide exemptions that we can apply for. One example is this:In due time we will either apply for one of those, or we expect (and we have reasons to believe this is in the works) the regulations to change to allow operations for drones of our class.
U
Undisclosed #2
Dec 12, 2018U
Undisclosed #3
Dec 11, 2018Opinion: Too many moving parts, not efficient. Pass.
U
Undisclosed #4
Dec 12, 2018What’s this wait for a human crap?
I want my drones scrambled autonomously at the first sign of trouble.
I want continuous guard tours.
I want onboard Sublethal.
Michael Gonzalez
Dec 13, 2018I'm definitely interested in testing this. My company has an FAA exemption to operate drones and test new tech.
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Dec 13, 2018This, and systems like this, are the future. The public is being conditioned to accept robots, and many see robots around the house as inevitable. Industries are already considering the "robot disruption" issue in their production planning sessions.
Roomba was just the first baby step. If they position the drone system as "robotic", they will be riding the free publicity wave. Price? All consumer electronics devices drop rapidly in price over time. If they find success with the early adopter segment, they may be well positioned as a supplier of the security robotics that we will all be someday demanding.
Whether or not security dealers will be part of the picture remains to be seen.
JH
John Honovich
Oct 22, 2019Update: Public installation demo from the company:
U
Undisclosed #2
Oct 22, 2019Sounds like an uninformed user, making statements that clearly indicate they are either not in the US, or using the system in violation of FAA regulations.
I would also wager that the system was given to them for promotional purposes, and not paid for. Also looks to be a house in the relatively limited climate areas that make using this small airframe drone reliable a majority of the time.
The video makes the drone look like a tech toy for wealthy people to showoff to their friends, not a practical security device.
U
Undisclosed #3
Oct 22, 2019U
Undisclosed #4
Oct 22, 2019...neighbors might not want to watch a drone doing laps incessantly along the property line they share. However, Pachikov said that his neighbor asked him if he could let them know before the next mission so he could get his kids and they could all watch.
brilliant non-answer! could be used to “refute” almost any concern:
Weather
“Actually, my neighbor’s wife is a meteorologist; and they just ordered two hives themselves, so...”
JH
John Honovich
Sep 24, 2020Related, Ring announced something like this, though indoor only:
Ever get a Ring Alarm alert and want to immediately see what's happening? The Ring Always Home Cam is here to help. This compact, lightweight, autonomously flying indoor camera gives even greater visibility when you’re not home. Learn more: 2021 Ring New Product Announcements | Ring [US Only] pic.twitter.com/13cXKtEeSs
— Ring (@ring) September 24, 2020
U
Undisclosed #6
Nov 01, 2022And for patrolling your home's interior:Ring Always Home Cam Flying Camera
JH
John Honovich
Nov 01, 2022