South Africa’s Sky Robots – a UAV Aerial Works company – is looking to become the Apple of security in the country, introducing an ecosystem of security solutions, with drone technology at the centre of all operations.
The company held a demonstration at its Johannesburg offices recently, to showcase the progress it has made so far, inspired by its lived experience with clients over the years.
On display were sensors, automation technology, training and in-house research and development (R&D) systems to improve aerial surveillance, rapid response and operational continuity.
And of course, the drones.
The jewel in the crown was the SRV22E long endurance drone with the staying power of an impressive flight time of more than two hours, while carrying a 1kg payload, which allows pilots to accomplish extended security missions without interruption, making it the ultimate solution for demanding and prolonged aerial endeavours.
Sky Robots’ demonstration was predicated on a mining scenario, with the company showing off an integrated aerial security system designed to support mines and other high-value operations where security is fundamental to production.
The system combines allround aerial surveillance using vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing aircraft with rapid-response deployment from vehicle-mounted multisensor drones.
“Today was the first time that we actually went to market with our products to introduce what it is that we have to offer our whole ecosystem,” said Bertus vanZyl, inventor and UAV Aerial Works managing director.
“Security is really important in the mining sector, specifically because if your equipment and stuff gets stolen on the mine, production stops and if production is not there, you lose jobs and in the end it's not economically viable for the mine.
“So security is a really important part of production and therefore drones are an important part of that security layer.
“It's one part of the security layer and what we've created was this vertical takeoff and landing fixed wing drone that can loiter in the air for two hours.
“(As a client, you get) a persistent surveillance and we have multi rotor drones that you can launch from a back of a bucky or something like that in order to provide quick response to incidents.”
The programme includes operations such as drone flight missions, repeater radios for extended coverage, radio over Internet protocol (ROIP) communication, AI-assisted flight safety using log-based analysis and retravel-augmented generation (RAG) feedback and operations management tools for pilot competency and maintenance tracking.
“Sky Robots’ approach is aimed at environments that require more than ad hoc deployment. Its model brings together aircraft, command-and-control configurations, communications infrastructure, operator training, maintenance support and operational oversight into a structured system designed for continuous use.”
All these are supported by in-house training and ongoing local R&D.
By linking security capability directly to production continuity, asset protection and operational certainty, Sky Robots positions aerial systems as an enabling layer for capital-intensive industries – not as a standalone technology purchase.
The system is built around both VTOL fixed-wing and multi-rotor platforms, each designed for specific operational roles, including persistent aerial coverage and rapid response.
“The drone is the visible edge of the system, but it is not the system itself,” van Zyl said.
“The real value lies in the operating architecture behind it. That is what allows these systems to perform reliably in demanding industrial environments.”
Security, as Sky Robots sees it, is not separate from operations, seeing as its overall objective is protect the people, infrastructure, equipment and materials that make production possible.
“When security fails, operations become less reliable, losses rise and investment confidence weakens. In that environment, jobs and long-term economic activity are also placed at risk.”
Sky Robots says it is therefore shifting the focus beyond sporadic standalone drone operations; rather than treating drones as individual tools, the company positions them as part of a structured operating model that includes command and control, remote piloting capability, ROIP radio systems, repeater radios, AI-based flight safety, operations management, training, support and continued R&D.
And as part of that growth strategy, Sky Robots is preparing to expand internationally through its Certified Partner programme, offering its partners access to a structured operating system that supports deployment, training, maintenance, support and long-term system development.
“Our international strategy is based on partnership, but with a disciplined operating model. We want Certified Partners to deploy a complete and credible system, not just individual drone products,” Van Zyl said.
The company also continues to invest in aircraft design, electronics, software and supply chain resilience as part of its long-term roadmap.
This includes ongoing in-house R&D and a Mauritius-based supply chain hub to support international deployment.