Sunflower Labs Drone Manufacturer Profile 2023
A Swiss-based company specializing in drones for security, Sunflower Labs, told us that since the start of last year, they doubled the number of deployed drones and want to quadruple it in 2023. But how is its product different from the competition?
In this report, we profile Sunflower Labs based on our interview with the CEO and co-founder Alex Pachikov, including:
- Background
- Employee count
- Financials
- Customers
- "Bee" Drone
- BVLOS Waivers
- "Hive" Base Station
- Software
- Integrations
- Price
- Partnership with ADT
- Sunflower vs. Competition
- Drone Industry Outlook
IPVM is expanding its drone-for-security coverage, for more background on Sunflower competitors, see:
Executive *******
*** ********** *** **** ($**,***/****) *** fast ******** **** (* *******) *** give ********* **** ** *********** ** be ****** ** * ****** *** camera. *** ******* ******* *** ****** of ****** ******** ** *** **** ~18 ****** (~** ** *** '** and ~** ** **** '**), *******, the ******** ** ***** ******* *********, thus ******** *** ***** *************. ********, Sunflower's ***** *********** ** *** ** market ** *******, ** *** ******* is ***** ** ****** *** ********* does **** ** *** ******** *****.
**********
*** ******* *** **-******* ***** **** ********,*** ***** *****, ***** ** *&* ******* ** ***é******* ****. ** *** ***** ** its ***, *** *******'* ********* ** providing * "****** ******** ******":
*** **** ***** ** ********* ******** security. ***** *** **** ****** **** do **** ********* ******, *** *** speciality ** **** ** *** * flying ******** ******. ** ***** ** something ** * ******** **** *** need ** *******, *** *** ****'* have * ****** ********* ***** *******, our ***** *** *** ***** *** be *** ******** ****** ** **** location ****** *******.
** ********, ********* ******** ********* ******, charging *****, *** ******* ******** *** commercial *** *********** **********.
*********, *** ******* ******* ******** **** for *** *********** ******, *** ***** the *************** *** *** ****** ****** **********/********** end-users.
*** ******* ** ***** **** ******, Switzerland, ***** ** ************ **** ** its ******** (******* ** ******* ************* location *** *********). **% ** *** manufacturing ** **** ******* ******** ************* in ******, ** *** ******** **** us.
Employee *****
********* **** ** ******* *** *** has ** *********, ** *** ******** confirmed ** ****.******** ***** ** *********(** *********), ***** ** ** **% growth ** *** **** **** (*% growth *** *********), ** *** ******* below *****:
******** **** ** **** **** **** continue ** ****, *******, ** ** said, ******** ****** ** *** ** end ** ******.
**** ** *** *******'* ***** ** in ***********, ***** ********* ** **'*.
**********
********* *** ****** * ***** ** $18 *******, *********$** ******* ** ******* ****, *** *** ***** ** ***** another ***** ** *** ******, ** Pachikov **** **:
** **** ** ******** * *** round ** ********* ****. ***** ** more *** **** ******** ** ******** and ** ****** - ***** ** a **** *** *** **.
***** *** ******* *** ******* ***** years ***, ********* ********* ** **** they *** *** ********** ***, *** have ** ****-**** ***** ** ******** such, ** ********* ** ******* ** growing *** ********, ** ******** **** us. **** ** ****** *** ********* that **** * *** **** ** units ********.
*********
********* **** ********* ******** *** *********** market, *** ** ******* ****, ******* to **********/********** *************. ***, *** ******* has "**-** *********", **** **% ** the *********** ****** (*** ******* ******* the ****** ** *********** ********* ** grow **** ****).
*** **** ******* ** *** ******* behind *** *****, *** *** **** profile -********* **** ****** $** *******, ****** to **********/**********.
*********, **** ** *********'* ******** ** in ******, ************ ** ******* *** Switzerland, *** ********* ******* **** **** time *** ** **** ****** *** company's ******* ******, ** ******** **** us:
*********, **** ** *** ******** ** in ******, *** ** ******* **** the ** **** ** ****** **** time, ** **** ***** **** * better ****** *** **. *** ***** are **** * *** **** *** cases **** ** **** ** *******. But **** ** *** ******** ***** now ** ** ******, ** *********** and *******
*** ******** **** *** *******'* ********* video ***** **** *** ************ ************ of **** ** *** *********'* *******, including ** *** ** *** ******:
************, ********* *** ********* ** *********, Canada, *** *****.
>100% ******** ** ******** ****** ******** ** ***'**
********* **** *** ** ****** ********, which ** * **** **** ***% increase ******** ** *** ****** ****** in** ********* **** *** ********* *** **** (** *** ****, the ******* *** *********** *** ***** deployed ******). ***********, *** ******* ***** to ********* *** ****** ** ****** every **** ** *** **** ******, starting **** ****, ** ******** ****** with **.
*** *******, *********'* ********** ** *** drone-for-security ********,******, *** **+ (** ** **** 2022) ***** ********.
********* ****** *** ******** ****** ~** customers, **** ** ******* ** * drone *** ******** (****** ********* **** 3-4 ******), ** *** ******* **** us.
"Bee" *****
*** ******* ***** ** *** *******'* offering ** ** **-***** ********* ********** 19" * **" * *" ***** called "***". ** *******, ** *** a ***** **°/***° ********/********** *** **** low-light ***** ****** *** ******** ********** and ******** ********* *******. *** **** not ******* ******* ***********, *** ********* is ********** ***** ***** ******** **** will ** ********* "****", ** *** Pachikov **** **.
******* ** *** ***********, *********'* ***** can ******* ********* ******* ***** ************* routes *** ****** ***-**** ******** ** the ********, ** **** ** *** ability ** *** ** * ***** location ** ******** ** *** *** in *** ******* ********.
***'* ******* ****** **** ** "****** 20 *******", **** * ~*:* ********-****** ratio (*.*., ** ******* ** ******** for ** ******* ** ******) - which ** ********** ** *** *********** (25 *** **** ****** *** "**-** minutes" **** ***********).
***'* **** ********** ** ******* ** ~12mph *** ~***** *** ***** **********, significantly ******* **** ****** *** ***********, which *** *** ** **-***** *****.
***** ******** **** ** *** ** the *******'* **********, ** ******** **** us - *** ***** *** "** under * *******", *** *** *******'* claims, *** *** ******* ** ******** on *** **** ** * *-**** property ** ***** ** *******, *** Sunflower's *******. *** **********, *********** ****** that *** ***** ** ******** "** less **** ** *******".
*** **** *****-***** ******** ******* *** geofencing *** *** ********** *** **** planning, ***** ******** ********* *******, ****-**** kinematic ***, ***. **** ** ******* to ***********, ******* **** ** ****. *** ******* ***** ***** *** end ******* ** *********'* *****-***** ***************:
*** ******* ** ****** *** ***** on **** ************* *** ** **** the ***** ** *********'* *********, ** neither *********** *** ****** **** *** offer ******* ************.
***********, *** *** ****** ********** ***** for *** ***** **** **************. *** example, *** ********* *********** * ****** ***** *** * narrow ******* *** *** ***** ** cross * ****** ****, ** ***** ** *** ******* below:
* ********** ** *** ********* ***** is *** ********* ** *** ******** charging *****, ****** ***********, ***** *** this ********** *** ***** ** "***** chain" *******. **** *********** *** ****** the ****** ** ****** **** * drone *** ***** ** * ****** run *** ****** * **** *** multiple ****** ** ***** * ****** property. ********* ********* ** **** **** they *** ******* ** **** *******.
Analytics
**** *** ***** **** *** ********* made ** *** ***** *** ** used ** *** ***** *********. *********, Sunflower ****** ******** **** ******* *** people ***********, *******, **** **** ** introduce **** ************ ** *** ******. CEO ******** ********* **** *** ******* has * "*** ********" ***** ***** system ** ********** ****** ********* *** container ********.
***** ********* *** **** ** *** Hive **** *******, ***** ********** ****** *** *******, ********* *** **** *** ********* on *** *****. *** ****** *** the ********* ** *** ******* ******* generation, ** ********* ******* ** ** a ******* ******** *** * ****** that **** *** **** ** ** smart, ** ******** *********:
*** *** *** *** ** ** just ** ******** ... ** *** Bee **** **** ***** ******: ** it *****, ** ******** **** **'* told ** **, ** **** *** crashes **** ****** ***** *** *** and ** ***** **** *** *****. It *****'* **** ** ** *****'* need ** ** **** *****.
Hive ****
**** ** * ******** *** ******* location **** *** ** *** ** patrol. **'* * ******* **"* **"* 25" (**** *****) ****** ******** **** ~77 ***. ****** ******, ***** ****** on ******* ********, ********* **** ******* charging ****** *** *******. ***** **** approach ******* *** ***** *** ****** periods ** ****, ** ** **** simplistic, **** ******** *** ****** ** potential ********.
**** ***** **** ***** *** ******** Ethernet/LTE ***** *** ******************.
BVLOS *******, ****** *********
******* ** *** ***********, ********* **** helps *** ********* ** *** ***** waivers (******** *** ***** ********* ******* line-of-sight). *** *** *******, *** ******* takes ******** **** * *** ***** to * ******, ********* ** *** facility's *********, *****, ***. (*** *******, how ***** *** ******** ** ** an *******, *** ******* **** **** to ***** *****, ***.)
******** **** **** **** *** ** the ******* **** ** *** *****, the ******* **** ******** ******* *** licenses ****** *** ****** **** *** competitors:
******* **'** *** **** ******* ******, we're **** ** *** ***** ********* faster *** ****** **** ********* **** because ** ******* * **** ***** risk, ****** *** *********.
*******, ********* **** **** ** **** BVLOS ******* *** * "*********" ********, as *** ******* ** ******** ** receive * ***** ********* **** **** allow ** ** ****** *** ***** waiver *********** ******* ** **** ***** exemption ********** *** ******* ** ******* a ******* **** ** ********** (*.*., security ******, ******** **********, ***.):
*** ***** ***** ******* *** **** a ********* ********. ** *** *** working ******* ** *********** *********, **** in *** ** *** ** ******, that ***** ***** ***** ********** ** sites ***** ***** * ******* *** of ****** *** *********** ********. **** such *********, ** **** *** **** to *** ***-**** ******** ** *** low **** *****, ***** ** **** of *** ******** *****.
***** *****-***-**-***-**** ********** *** *** *** implemented ** *** ********, ** ******** continued, *******, ********* ** ******* **** FAA *** ******* **** **** **** receive ************* ******* ** "* *** years".
********, ** ******* ***** ******* ************ in **-**** ***********,******** ******** * ******* ***** ************ ** *** *** ** *** few ********* **** ** *** **** to **** *** ***** *******.
******* ********* **** ** **** ** get **** ********* ******* ** ** seen. *******, ** **** **, **** will ** * ******** *** *** company ** *** ************* **** ** less ********** *** *******, ****, ****** drones * **** ********** ******** *** security ********.
********
*********'* ******** ****** ********* ** ******* drones, ******** *******, **** ******, *** set ****** ***** (*.*., **** * notification ** * *** ** ******** past * ******* ****).
*** **** ******* ** *** ******** - ************'* **** ** *** ********** **** conference.
************
********* *** ********* **** "*** ****** sensor" **** *** ****** ** ***** request ** * ******* *** ***** sensors ************, *********'* ********** *******. *********'* ******************* *************** ******* ****-***** ********* ********.
*** ***, *** ******* ********** **** "any ***** *** *** *** ****/***** capability" *** **** *** ****** ******** from **** *** ********, *** ********* has ** ***** ** ***** ***** functionality **** ******* *** ****** * bad **** **********:
** [*********] ******* *** ***** *** via *** ****/***** **********, *** *** modern ****** **** *** * ********** to ****** ** ***** ******* ** a *******. ** *** **** ******* any ***** ******* *** * ********** partner **** *****.
** [*********] *** ********* **** **** about *** *** **** ******** ****, and ** *** ****** ******** **** them *** ********. **** *** ******* can **** **** *** ******* *** in ** ******.But ** **** ** ***** ** ***** *** *** ************* **** ******* *** - **** ** **** ****** *** ***** ** ** * **** **** **********. [emphasis added]
*****
********* ****** *** ********, ********, *******, and *********** *** $*,***/***** ** * minimum *-**** ********. *******, *** ***** decreases **** ****** ********* ***/** ****** volume, ** ******** ********* ** ****.
*********'* $**,*** ****** **** ** **** than ***** ***** **** ********* **** Asylon's *****, ****** ** $***,*** ********. Nightingale *** *** ******** ***** ******* ("a *** **** **** $***,***/****" *** drone-as-a-service), ** ** ****** ******* ** to *********'* *******.
Partnership **** ***
***** *** ******** ********* ************ **** Halodi ********/** *** ****** ********, ********* Labs *** **** ***'* ******* *** two ***** ***, ** ******** ********* to ****.
*** ** * "**** ********* *******" for *** *******'* ********** *** *********** implementation, *** *******, ********* ***** ** get "************ *** ***********" **** **** partnership.
*** ******* ******** ** ******* *** further ********.
*** **** ********** ** ******/** *** Indoor ********, ********* ******** + *** ********,** / ****** ******** $**.* ******* Raise ********,****** ******** ****** $** ******* *** Security ******.
Sunflower **. ***********
***** *** ******** **** *** ***** about *********** ** * "****-*** ********", he ******** **** **'* *** ***** to ***** ***** *********** *** ********* and **** **** ****** ***** ** how *** ****** ** **** *** deployed:
* ***'* ***** ** *********** ** a ****-*** ********. * **** **** it ** *** ***** ** ***** about ***********, **'* **** ** ***** about *** ********* *** **** ******, how ******** **** ****** **, *** whether *** **** *** ** *** regulatory *********.
***** ********* ********** *** ********* ** competitors (*** *******, ****** *** ***********), Pachikov **** ** **** ** ******** that ***** ** *** * *** of *********** ** *** *****-***-******** ******:
** ***'** ******* *** * ******, which ** ***** ** **, ******** speaking, ******** ***** ***********, * ***'* think ** **** * *** ** competition. ***** ***** ** **** ***** out ***** **** *** ** ********* similar. *** ** ***** ** ** all-in-one ******** ***** *** ********, * think ** [*********] *** ******** **.
************, ********* ******** *** ****** ** advantageous ** *** ***********, ***********, *** quickness ******** ** ***** ******** ** the *****:
** ** ****** *******,we *** *** **** ******** ******. Because our system is built for reliable landing, recharging, it's completely self-contained. We've done over 10,000 successful flights. We *** *** **** ******* ******, our system is 70 pounds, you can easily pick it up and install it anywhere, you don't need a crane, which is quite unusual in the space. We are the fastest to deploy. So ** ***** **** ******* **** **** * **** ** *** ********* *'* ******* ** *** ***, and we fly at four meters a second. So if you want to cover a 4-acre property, we can be on the furthest point of the 4-acre property in 30 seconds. If it's a 10-acre property, we can be anywhere on a 10-acre property in under 90 seconds. So * ***** **'** *** **** ******* [********] [emphasis added]
******, **** *** *********'* ***** *** base ******* *** ************* ******* ******** to ***********, ** *** ******* ***** shows:
*********'* ******* *-****** ******** **** ** also ******* **** **** ** ****** (90 ******* **** "**** *****") *** Nightingale ("**** **** ** *******").
**** *** *** ****** *** ** the *********, ** ** ****** ******* the ******** ** ***** ******.
Drone ******** *******
******** ******** **** ********'* ****, *******, and ****** *** ** *********** ** the******* **** *****, **** ** *** ***** ** the ****** ******* ** *** "***** of *************" *** ******** *** "******* of ************" ** *-* *****, ** Pachikov ********.
*** ***** ********, *** ******** ** general, **** **** ******* ********, **** multiple ********* ******* **** ** ******** of ******* ** *******, ********* ********* itself. *******, ******* *** ******** **** reach *** ******* ******* ** ** seen.
****** **** ******** *** *********** ******* to ****** ****-*******: ****** *********** *** high ******. **** *** **** ** regulations, *** ****** *** ******, ****, decreasing ******** ** **** **********, ********** sales ******, ***., ***** **** ***** companies ** ***** ***** ******* **** while ** *** **** **** *********** comparable *******. ***** ****** **** ******** demand **** ****.
*'* *** **** * ******. ********* can ********* **** *****-***** ******* ******* of********** ** ***** ******* ** * webhook.
*****, ***** ********** ** **** *** will ****. ** * ********* ****, the ********* **** *** ***** **** in ******. ** ** * ***** campus ** **** ******** **** *** the **** *** ********* ** ******* points, *** ***** ******** ** *** middleware ****** **.
** ** *******, ** * **** sensor ** ****** ********* ******* ****** at * ******** *****, ***** **** automatically ******** *** ****** ******* ** the ***** ** **** *****.
*** ********* *** ** *** ******** sensors, ***** ******** ** ****** *********. Or ** **** *****, ** ***** CHeKT's ****, *** ******* ****** ***** be ******* ******** ******** **** ****** control.
** *** ***** ***** ***** *********** comes ******* *****, *** **** ***** initiates *** ****** ** *** **** detection *****.
*****, **** ** ********* ******** *** to ***** ***** ***** **** ******* detection ******* *** * ***** **** providing ****** ***** ************ *** *******.
*** ***** *********** **** ******** *** video ** ***** ********** ******* *** real **** ******* *** ********.
**** ********** ** ******* ** ~***** and ~***** *** ***** **********
**** ***** ** ***** ** ******** quite * *** **** ******** ******* February ** **. ****** **** ** even **** ** ** ** **% and **** ***** ** **** **** appealing. ******** ***** ** ****** *** of *** ********** ***** ** ****** nice. ** ** ****** ****** ********?
** ** ****** ****** ********?
********* ** ********** *** ******* ******** operations.
****** ********, *******, *********** ** ****** patrols - *** **** ******* ************ ******** ****** $** ******* *** Security ******
** *** **** ** **** **** remotely ********* ***** ******* **** * 100% **** **** ******* *** ********* for **** ****.
*** *** ****** **** *** ***** is ****, ** *** **** ** be ***** ****** *******, *** **** alicensed drone pilot to be actively monitoring all flights in the US. The waiver just makes it so the licensed person piloting it doesn't need to be within sight of the drone. The licensing test is not simple, it is expensive, and your typical security officer will find it a challenge. To make it extra annoying, almost all of the training and questions on the exam have practically NO relevance to what they will be expected to do overwatching this drone system.
***** *** ********* **** **** ******** monitor *** ***** *** ***, ****** to *** ******* $*,***/***** *** *** 15 ****** ****** ***** ****.
* *** ** ********* ******'* ******* group *** ***** ******* *** ** expect ** **** ** ** ***** Q4, **** **** *********** **** ***** for ***** ****** ****** * ** of *** ******* ********* ***** (** people *** **. **). **** ***** the **** *** * **** ****** for ********** *** ******** ** ************** with * ****** *****. ******** ***** are **** ***** ***** **** **** clarification **** ********** *****. *** ** all ** *** * **** ******** in **** ***** *** *** **** success *** *************/ ********** **** ** listen ** *** ********** ******* ** is **** *** *** *** ************** to **** **** ****.
** ** ****** ****** ** *** use ** ** ********** ******** **** 3rd ***** ?