How 24-7 Drone Force Secures Residential Estates using Autonomous Drones in South Africa

24-7 Drone Force is a leading security provider in the South African market, employing approximately 3,500 security officers and operating an advanced command center that integrates various technologies. With traditional security methods struggling to address evolving threats in residential communities due to response time limitations, false alarms, surveillance blind spots, and human error, the company has embraced drone technology to transform their operations. Over the past year, they've moved from traditional manual drone deployments to implementing DJI Dock solutions integrated with FlytBase to enhance their perimeter security capabilities.
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During one of the NestGen '25 sessions, we spoke with David De Lima (Managing Director, 24-7 Security Services), Wilmur Lubbe (General Manager, Hennies Drone Repair and Training), Michael Lever (Director, Metagrated), and Stefan (Operations Director, Agridrone t/a 24/7 Drone Force) about how they're reshaping perimeter security in residential estates throughout South Africa. Here's what they had to say about their journey implementing autonomous drones for security operations:
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"Most of our services provide some sort of perimeter security based solution. In South Africa, there's a huge trend towards guided communities, guided business properties, and huge perimeter infrastructures around business environments." - David De Lima, Managing Director, 24-7 Drone Force

South African residential communities face significant security challenges that traditional methods struggle to address effectively:

• Extensive Perimeters: Large golfing estates, business parks, residential complexes, and commercial properties have extensive boundaries that are difficult to monitor consistently with ground-based security personnel.
  
• Response Time Limitations: Traditional security approaches relying on guards patrolling on foot or in vehicles cannot quickly respond to incidents across large properties, creating vulnerability windows.
  
• Resource Intensiveness: Manual drone deployment required dedicated pilots in the field, making scaling operations costly and logistically complex.‍
• Regulatory Hurdles: Implementing autonomous drone solutions required navigating complex civil aviation regulations, especially for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, with no existing framework for security applications.

24-7 Drone Force implemented a comprehensive drone-in-a-box solution by integrating DJI Dock systems with FlytBase's drone autonomy platform. This technology combination enables them to deploy automated drone patrols for perimeter security across residential estates and business properties throughout South Africa.

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"We see massive opportunities for mobilizing this technology to effectively control these boundaries and these parameters. Certainly in the residential space, because here we have huge properties that are protected from these types of environments - golfing estates, business parks, massive residential estates, as well as leading into the commercial sector, the mining sector, the agricultural sector." - David De Lima, Managing Director, 24-7 Drone Force

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The core components of the solution include:

• Hardware: DJI Dock systems strategically positioned throughout protected properties
• Software: FlytBase autonomy platform for automated flight control and command center integration
• Command Center: Central security operations center monitoring and controlling multiple drone systems
• Communication Infrastructure: Redundant internet connectivity and specialized radio systems
• Regulatory Compliance: Approved BVLOS operations following South African Civil Aviation Authority standards

The automated perimeter security system follows a structured operational workflow:
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1. Trigger Event: The system is activated by various inputs including analytics-driven alerts, electric fence zone breaks, panic buttons, or manual dispatch from the command center.
   
2. Mission Deployment: An operator in the command center initiates a pre-programmed flight mission via the FlytBase platform to investigate the trigger location.
   
3. Autonomous Flight: The drone automatically exits the dock, follows the programmed flight path to the target location, and begins surveillance.
   
4. Real-Time Monitoring: Command center operators monitor the live video feed to assess the situation and coordinate with ground security personnel.
   
5. Automated Return: After completing the mission (or if battery levels reach critical thresholds), the drone autonomously returns to the dock for recharging.
   
6. Continuous Readiness: The system maintains operational readiness for subsequent deployments, with automated weather checks and system diagnostics.
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"The dock-drone solution only requires two things: stable power connection and stable internet connection." - Wilmur Lubbe, General Manager, Hennies Drone Repair and Training

Implementing this solution required navigating complex regulatory and technical challenges. The team worked closely with the South African Civil Aviation Authority to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for BVLOS operations, as no existing framework existed for drone-in-a-box security applications.
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"We had to develop our own training methodology for BVLOS operations. There was no script. We had to develop it from scratch." - Stefan, Operations Director, 24-7 Drone Force

Key implementation components included:

• Regulatory Approval Process: Development of detailed SOPs, demonstration of safety protocols, and establishment of airspace management procedures
• Radio Over IP (ROIP) System: Creation of a specialized system allowing pilots to transmit and receive air band messages at the drone's location rather than the pilot's station
• Redundancy Systems: Implementation of backup power supplies, multiple internet connectivity options, and failsafe protocols
• Security Measures: Installation of CCTV cameras with virtual fences to monitor dock stations
• Integration Testing: Comprehensive testing to ensure seamless operation between FlytBase software, DJI hardware, and command center systems

The implementation team emphasized rigorous testing and redundancy at every level to ensure reliability and regulatory compliance. They conducted extensive demonstrations to prove the system was not fully autonomous but maintained pilot oversight capability throughout all flight phases.

"Through our partnership with 24/7 Drone Force, we clearly established the importance of regular service and maintenance of the dock system and the drone to ensure uninterrupted operational readiness." - Wilmur Lubbe, General Manager, Hennies Drone Repair and Training

The implementation of autonomous drone systems has delivered significant operational benefits:
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Enhanced Response Capabilities

The shift from manual drone operations to dock-based autonomous systems has dramatically improved response times. Previously, security teams needed to physically deploy a drone, set up landing sites, and configure equipment - a process that could take valuable minutes during a security incident. The dock-based system enables immediate deployment with minimal human intervention.
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Improved Operational Efficiency

"The cost opportunities of scaling this operation into a command center is immense. We've also seen the integration of this technology into the command center, giving us the flexibility of deploying assets more effectively." - David De Lima, Managing Director, 24-7 Drone Force

By centralizing control in the command center, 24-7 Drone Force has reduced the need for field-based drone pilots, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently and cover larger areas with fewer personnel.
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Exceptional System Reliability

The system has demonstrated remarkable reliability metrics during extensive testing:

• 1,200+ completed flights
• 300+ hours of flight time
• 99% system serviceability rate
• 25-30 minutes of operational flight time per mission
• Continued operation in weather conditions that would ground manually-operated drones

Expanded Coverage Capabilities

The autonomous nature of the solution enables consistent monitoring of large perimeters that would be impractical to patrol continuously with traditional security methods. Pre-programmed missions ensure no areas are missed during regular security checks.

While still in the early adoption phase in South Africa, 24-7 Drone Force sees significant growth potential for autonomous drone security systems. Their future plans include:
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"In terms of where we see this going, scaling it is obviously ideal, but then at the same time, the ability to manage multiple docks or multiple aircraft is quite important." - Michael Lever, Director, Metagrated

The team is actively working on AI integration to enhance the system's capabilities for automated threat detection, reducing the cognitive load on operators. They're also exploring expanded use cases beyond residential security, including applications in mining, agriculture, and commercial property protection.
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As regulatory frameworks evolve and technology adoption increases, they anticipate wider implementation across various sectors throughout South Africa, with a focus on education and awareness to drive market acceptance.

The implementation of FlytBase-powered autonomous drone systems has enabled 24-7 Drone Force to transform their perimeter security operations, providing enhanced visibility, faster response times, and more efficient resource allocation. While still in the early stages of adoption in South Africa, the proven reliability and operational benefits demonstrate the significant potential of this technology.
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"The fact that you have visibility or a platform in the sky assisting first responders is a huge, huge benefit. I think as more of our customers start adopting this technology, and we become more operationally focused to use this as a first response tool, I think we'll have a lot more people adopting this technology a lot quicker." - David De Lima, Managing Director, 24-7 Drone Force

Q1. What regulatory approvals are needed for autonomous drone security operations in South Africa?
Security providers must develop detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), demonstrate safety protocols to the South African Civil Aviation Authority, implement airspace management procedures, file NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), and ensure pilots maintain manual control capability throughout automated flights.
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Q2. How reliable are dock-based drone systems for continuous security operations? Based on 24-7 Drone Force' implementation, dock-based systems achieved 99% serviceability across 1,200+ flights and 300+ hours of operation. The systems can operate in weather conditions that would ground manually-operated drones when properly installed with redundant power and connectivity.
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Q3. What triggers automated drone deployments in security applications? Deployments can be triggered by multiple inputs including analytics-driven alerts from existing security systems, electric fence zone breaks, panic buttons, scheduled patrol missions, or manual dispatch from security command centers.
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Q4. How does the FlytBase platform integrate with existing security operations centers? FlytBase provides a centralized control interface that enables security operators to monitor drone status, deploy automated missions, view real-time video feeds, and coordinate with ground personnel, all from within existing command center infrastructure.