Startup Sunflower Labs' Autonomous Drone Security System

By: Dan Gelinas, Published on Dec 11, 2018

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

**************** ****** ******** * ****** design ** * **** security ******, ********* ********** drones *** '*********' *******. Imagine ** ******** ***** to ***** **** **** home *** **** ********* security ***** ******** ******* above **** *** ****** following **** *** ****** them ****. **** ** Sunflower's ***. **** *** planning * ***- ** late- **** ******* ************ targeting ****-*** ***********.

***** ** *** ********* with *** ** *** company's **-******** ** *******:

  • ******* **********
  • ******* ** ** **** production
  • *** ** *****
  • **** *** ********
  • *******
  • ****** ********
  • ********* *** *** ***** video **********
  • ********* ********** ** ********

[***************]

Company **********

******** ****** ********************* **** *** **-******* in ****** ******* *********** ******** *****.

********* ******* ** ****-**** employees *** ~* *********** and *** ******* ** Zurich *** *** *********.

****** *** ***** * years ** *********, *************** $*.* ******* ** seed *********** ********* **** ************** ********,******* ********,**** *******—** ***** ******** *** CEO ************* ******* **** ***** companies **** ***** ********, apps, *** ******** ** Japan, ******* *****—*** *** **-******* ***** ********* ** ******* ******.

How ** *****

*** ****** **** '*********' perimeter ******* (***** **** act ** ********** ******* and ********* ******) ****, when *********, **** ** alert ** ***** *** dispatch *** ********** '***' drones.

*** *****, *****-******* ********** are ******** **** ****** and ********* ********* ******* to ******** ******. ********* said **** ***** ** powered ** *****, *** with *** ********** ******, the ***** ***** ** too ****. ******** ***** is * ********* **** landscape ***** *********:

*******, ********* **** **** are *********** * ***** version **** ** ****** in *** ******.

*** *** ****** * 1080P ******, ~*.*" ****-*** propellers ** ******** ***** and ******** ******.

********* **** *** * pound *** **** **** fly ~* **** ****** than *** ******* ***** of * *****, ********* under ** ****. ********* said ** *** ***** starts ** ***** ******* the ********, ** **** do ** ********* ********** descent *** **** ****.

*******, *** *****'* **** station/charging *******/****** *** ** called *** ****. ** performs *** ********* ********* AI-based *********, ******* ** an ********** ****** ***.

*** **** ******** ** the ******** (**** * wired ******** ** **** connection) *** ********** **** the ****** (*.**** ***-****) and *** ****** ******* (900MHz ****). ** **** has *** (****-**** *********) ***, ***** ** shares **** *** ****** for **********.

*** ***** ***** *********** how *** ****** *****:

Roll *** ********

******** **** ********* **** had * *** ****-**-*** code ** ******* ******* that ***** *** *** product ***** ******** ** those *** ***** **** contained *** *******, *******-***** properties *****. ***** ********* will ******. **** ** the ******** **** *** dealer ******* ** *** has **** ** *** east ***** ** *** US, ***** ** *************'* ****** ******** *** the *******'* ******* ***** at *** ****.

*******

*** ******* *** *** announced ******* *** *** said ** ***** ** so **** **** **** closer ** ******. ******** said **** *** *** market—large, ****-*** ***********—*** ******** would ** ************* ****** with *** **** *** scope ** ****** ****** needed ** ***** **** a ********.

********* **** *** ******* will ** **** ** a ************ ***** **** covers *********, ********* ************, upgrades, *** ******* ********.

******** **** **** *********'* solution ******'* ** * good *** *** ********:

** ***’** ***** ** have **** * ***** door **** * **** cam *** * **** door **** * **** cam, **** **** ***** be *** *** ** go. *** ** *** have ** *********** ** two *** * ***** property, **** **** ***** be ******. *********** ******* are ********** *** **** are *** **** ** a *********. * ***** flying *** *** ********* you ****** ** **** more ** * *********.

Market ********

******** **** **** **** had * ****** ******** coming ** ******. **** would **** ******** ** those ********* *** **** interested *** ****** ** set ** *** ******* the ****** ********** **** he *** ** *** own ****. *******, **** were **** ******** ********** installation ********:

*** **** ** *** should ** **** ** buy ** ******** *** install ** ******** ** you’re ** ********. *******, any *** **** ***** we **** ** ************ partner, **’** **** * function ** *** **** where *** *** ***** your ******* *** **’** populate * **** ** installation ******** ** **** area.

***********, ******** **** **** since ******* *** ********** at *** ******** ******** Expo ** *** ****, they **** *** **** interested ******* ******* ***** becoming ********* ** ******* and *** ** *** system.

**’** ******** ********** **** now. **’** *** ** many ** ***** ********** dealers **** ******* *** show. ****’* **** ** formalized *** *** **** by *** **** ******** and ******* ** **** out *** *** ******* in ********* *****.

******** ********* ***** **** be * ************* ******* by ***** *** ********** dealers *** **** *********** in ** ****.

Potential *** *** ***** ***** **********

*** ********* ******** **** capable ** *********** **** a ********'* ******** ***** systems *** ******** ***** conformance, ********* ** ********.

*******, ******** **** *** company—via *** ********** ** Stanley **** ******* ******** provided *******—*** ******* ****** out * **** **** Stanley's ********** ****** ******** to ******* *** ***** feed *** ********* *** wanted **** ***** ********** of *** ***'* ******.

Potential ********** ** ********

***** *** * *** potential ********** ** ******** that ** *** ***:

***** *********

***** ** * ****** possibility **** * ****** owner's ****-***-************ ********* ***** not **** ** ***** a ***** ***** **** incessantly ***** *** ******** line **** *****. *******, Pachikov **** **** *** neighbor ***** *** ** he ***** *** **** know ****** *** **** mission ** ** ***** get *** **** *** they ***** *** *****. Pachikov **** ******* *** that *** ***'* ******** mission **** *** *** exceed * *******, ** the ***** *** *** airborne *** **** ** a ****.

********* ** ****

******** **** **** ****'* really ********** ********* ********* to **** (***** **** chasing *** ***** ****** the **** ******* ***********), but **** *** **** dogs **** ***** ****** chase * ********'* *** around *** *** **** dogs *** *** ***** to ***** *********, ********, and ******* **** *** day. *****, ** *****, each ******* **** *** not **** ****, ** any *********** ***** ** limited.

*******

********* **** ** *** been ******-******* *** *** in ******* ******* ********** like ********** ***** **** and **** *** **** they ******** ********* *** weather:

** ******* * ********* weather ******** ************** *** we **** *** ****** very ****** **** ** very ****** ****. ** that ****, ** **** the ****. ** **** insist *** ** ***** like *** ****** * wind ** ****, ** will **** ****** ** take ***. *** *** is ** *********** **% of *** ****. *****'* maybe * **** * year **'** **** *******. 20 **** ** **** winds *** ** *******.

********, ******** **** *** system *** * *-****** status ***** **** ******** the ***'* ******* ** fly. ******-******** ******* ******* the ******* *** **** battery ******.

***** *** **** ** go, ****** *** ******* advised, *** *** ******* the *** ***'* ***.

***** ***** *** *** Hive *** *** ********* in *** ****, ******** laughed:

*** *********** ****** ** in ******, ***********. ** know ***** ****. **'** considered ****. *** **** is ******** ****** *** to *** ********* ****** inside *** *** **** is *******. ** *****'* had *** ******** **** snow ******** ** ***.

*******, ******** **** **** if *** **** ** the **** **** *** get *** ******* ***** with **** *** *** Hive **** *** *** able ** ****, *** system ***** **** ** alert ** *** *****'* app ** **** ***** clear *** ****.

******* ******

******** **** *** *** also *** ************ ******** in ***** ** **** things **** ***** ***** off ****** ** *** losing ************* **** *** Hive ** *** **********. Such ******** ******** *** strength ** *** ****** which ******* *** **** acceleration, ************ *** ****** correction, *** *** ** both *** *** *** the ****, ***** ******* for ******* *********

******* ********

******** ****** **** *** Bee *** ******** **** protective ** ******* **** standard ***** ************:

**’** ******** **** ******* conscious **** **** ******** security *******. ****'** ******* on *** ******* ** your **** ****** ******* where **** ******* ********* and *********. **** *** the ********* *** **** inward.

Ramping ** ** **** **********

******** **** **** ******** they **** ************ **** of ***** ******'* ********** during *********** **-*****, **** are ****** * ******** company **** *** **** forced ** *********** ********* to *** *** *****. Pictured ***** ** * pre-production **-******* **** ******* of *** *******'* ********** drone, *** ***:

********* ** ** ***** with *** ***** ************ to **** **** *** help **** **** ** to ******, ******** *********:

** *** ****** * software *******. **’** ** the *********** ********* **** we **** ** ***** our *** ********. *****’* nothing ** *** ****** that ***** *** **** today. *********, *** *** prototypes *** **** ** ourselves, *** ** *** in ********** **** ******* manufacturing ********.

Vote / ****

Comments (12)

Undisclosed End User #1

12/11/18 06:36pm

********* ** ****

**** ***** **** ******* off *** ********* *******?

**** ******, * *** see * ********** ****** for **** **** ** system.

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #1 | 12/11/18 06:57pm

* ***** **** **** Alex ** ********* ****. The ********* ** ******** with *** ******* **** can ** ********. **** is **** ** **** when * ***** *** if ***** **** ********** that ***** ** *** to ****** *** ********:

*** **** *** ****** what ** ** ******* to *** *** *****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Dan Gelinas | 12/11/18 07:19pm

*** **** *** ****** what ** ** ******* to *** *** *****.

**** ***** *** ****** company ****.

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | 12/11/18 06:51pm

***** *********** #*. ***** you *** *** ********! I *** ****** ** find *** *********** ** their **** **: *** immunity. *'** ******* *** to **** ** ********* to *** *** ******** and **** ****** **** I **** ****.

Avatar

Mark Palka

IPVMU Certified | 12/11/18 06:59pm

* ***** **** ****** will ** ****** ****** the ********** ****** ** I ********** ** ***** $15K ***, ***** *** some *********** ******** *** still *** ****. ** for *** **** ***** that ***** *** ** a **** ******* *** freezing **** ***** ** a *****. ** ** this ** * ****** that ***** **** ** be **** **** ** wholesale. *** ********** ***** need ** ****** **** money ** ******* ******** etc. *** ** * see ** **** ** a ****** **** ******** more ******* **** *** alternative. ********* ***** ***** get * ***** *** more ******* *** ** SMP ***** ** * LOOMO **** ***** ** the **** ***** ** a ****** *****. *** could **** ** **** traditional *** *** ******* that ***** ***** *** entire ********, **** **** remote ******* *** ***** down ** * ***** cost. **** ***** ** great *** * **** guy *** *** *** much ***** *** *** its ***** ********* ** not * ****** *********** but * ** **** they **** *******

Undisclosed #2

12/11/18 07:18pm

** ******* ** *** regulations ** ****? *** the *** ******* ********* line ** ***** *********, night **** *******, *** lightened *** *********** ****** commercial ***?

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | 12/11/18 08:10pm

***** *********** #*. * asked **** ***** *** regulations *** **** ** what ** ****:

********* *** *********** **** limit **** ** *** do, ********** **** ****** to ***** [****** ****** Line ** *****]. *** now ** **** ** apply *** *******, *** FAA ***** ** ** very ********* ** ***** that, ********** ***** *** drone ** **** *****, flies ********** ***, *** geo-fences ** **** **** property.

***** *** **** **-**** exemptions **** ** *** apply ***. *** ******* is ****:
** *** **** ** will ****** ***** *** one ** *****, ** we ****** (*** ** have ******* ** ******* this ** ** *** works) *** *********** ** change ** ***** ********** for ****** ** *** class.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Dan Gelinas | 12/12/18 01:36am

******. ****** ****** **-*******-*** to **.

Undisclosed #3

12/11/18 08:13pm

*******: *** **** ****** parts, *** *********. ****.

Undisclosed #4

12/12/18 03:37am

****’* **** **** *** a ***** ****?

* **** ** ****** scrambled ************ ** *** first **** ** *******.

* **** ********** ***** tours.

* **** ****************.

Avatar

Michael Gonzalez

12/13/18 12:31am

*'* ********** ********** ** testing ****. ** ******* has ** *** ********* to ******* ****** *** test *** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

12/13/18 12:46pm

****, *** ******* **** this, *** *** ******. The ****** ** ***** conditioned ** ****** ******, and **** *** ****** around *** ***** ** inevitable. ********** *** ******* considering *** "***** **********" issue ** ***** ********** planning ********.

****** *** **** *** first **** ****. ** they ******** *** ***** system ** "*******", **** will ** ****** *** free ********* ****. *****? All ******** *********** ******* drop ******* ** ***** over ****. ** **** find ******* **** *** early ******* *******, **** may ** **** ********** as * ******** ** the ******** ******** **** we **** *** ** someday *********.

******* ** *** ******** dealers **** ** **** of *** ******* ******* to ** ****.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Wyze AI Analytics Tested - Beats Axis and Hikvision on Jul 17, 2019
$20 camera disruptor Wyze has released free person detection deep learning analytics to all of their users, claiming users will "Only get notified...
ZeroEyes Gun Detection Startup on Jul 16, 2019
A gun detection video analytics startup, ZeroEyes, is being led by a group of 6 former Navy SEALs, aiming to "save lives" by using AI to assist...
Calipsa - UK AI Startup Profile on Jul 10, 2019
Analytic startups are a major industry trend. One UK company, Calipsa is aiming to use AI to filter out false positive alarms for live video...
2019 Mid-Year Video Surveillance Guide on Jul 01, 2019
IPVM's new 400+ page Mid-Year Industry Guide brings all of these issues and events together in a single resource to read and review. It can be...
Axis Live Privacy Shield Analytics Tested on Jun 25, 2019
Privacy is becoming a bigger factor in video surveillance, driven both by increased public awareness and by GDPR. Now, Axis has released Live...
Directory of 60 Video Surveillance Startups on Jun 25, 2019
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly known. 2019...
Hikvision ColorVu Camera Tested on Jun 24, 2019
Hikvision says their new ColorVu line captures "vivid chromatic images in darkness", with unconventional white light illuminations whereas most...
Risk of Amazon Alexa Guard: No Battery Or Cell Backup on Jun 20, 2019
Amazon positions its Alexa Guard Service as a "smart home security system" and says it can help you "keep your home safe". However, the...
IFSEC 2019 Show Report on Jun 19, 2019
The UK's largest trade show, IFSEC, is underway and IPVM has been examining what is new and happening at the show. Inside, we cover: Huawei...
Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Vivotek on Jun 19, 2019
Repositionable multi-imager cameras are one of the fastest growing segments in video surveillance, with a slew of new offerings being recently...

Most Recent Industry Reports

History of Video Surveillance on Jul 19, 2019
The video surveillance market has changed significantly since 2000, going from VCRs to emerging into an AI cloud era.  The goal of this history...
Mobile Access Usage Statistics 2019 on Jul 18, 2019
The ability to use mobile phones as access credentials is one of the biggest trends in a market that historically has been slow in adopting new...
New GDPR Guidelines for Video Surveillance Examined on Jul 18, 2019
The highest-level EU data protection authority has issued a new series of provisional video surveillance guidelines. While GDPR has been in...
Wyze AI Analytics Tested - Beats Axis and Hikvision on Jul 17, 2019
$20 camera disruptor Wyze has released free person detection deep learning analytics to all of their users, claiming users will "Only get notified...
Anyvision Aims For 2022 Revenue of $1 Billion on Jul 17, 2019
Only 3 video surveillance manufacturers do a billion dollars or more in annual revenue - Hikvision, Dahua, and Axis. Now, Anyvision plans to join...
HD Analog vs IP Guide on Jul 16, 2019
For years, HD resolution and single cable signal/power were IP camera advantages, with analog cameras limited to much lower resolution and...
How To Troubleshoot Wiegand Reader Problems - Inverted Wiring on Jul 16, 2019
Wiegand is the dominant method of connecting access readers, but problems can arise for installers. In fact, one of the most difficult reader...
ZeroEyes Gun Detection Startup on Jul 16, 2019
A gun detection video analytics startup, ZeroEyes, is being led by a group of 6 former Navy SEALs, aiming to "save lives" by using AI to assist...
Motorola Acquires Watchguard, Adds to Vigilant And Avigilon on Jul 15, 2019
2 years ago, Motorola had no position nor relevancy to video surveillance. Now, they own major video surveillance, LPR and body camera providers...
Hikvision Global News Reports Directory on Jul 15, 2019
Hikvision has received the most global news reporting of any video surveillance company, ever, ranging from the WSJ, the Financial Times, Reuters,...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact