Drones are flying across the Permian Basin oil patch to monitor emissions or fluid leaks.
LandSkyAI, a startup, now has drones active in West Texas, but its drones have a different purpose.
While the drones have inspection capabilities, “we’re focused on security,” said Jake Shild, founder and CEO of the company.
“What’s different is, one, we focus on security, and two, these are drone-in-a-box systems,” he told the Reporter-Telegram by phone.
LandSky’s VirtualGuard platform is fully automated and allows drones to be controlled remotely. LandSky operates a support team 24/7. If a drone detects something unusual, a team member can take control, move it in for a closer inspection and alert the client, Shild said.
At the client’s West Texas energy site, the drones are deployed for perimeter security to monitor theft or unauthorized access.
“Across industries, we’re seeing concern about theft,” Shild said. “We work where there’s construction going on, where data centers are being built.”
There is also concern about unauthorized access by people who may want to sabotage the facilities or cause environmental damage, he added.
Shild said hiring LandSky can offer economic benefits. First, even at sites with multiple security officers, the drones can be used to patrol perimeters, allowing security personnel to perform other tasks. Second, in remote areas, it can be expensive to install infrastructure to support drone operations.
This is the company’s first foray into West Texas, and Shild said he finds the region interesting.
Shild said the goal is to continue expanding the company’s client base. He estimates LandSky has flown about 70,000 drone missions, which he said proves the technology works.
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