The aim of the ASCIP project is to verify how to shorten response times to incidents in industrial areas, increase security, and minimize the need for physical patrols. The project has demonstrated that the combination of autonomous ground robots, drones, and advanced software integration can significantly speed up the response to incidents in large industrial areas and critical infrastructure facilities. While static cameras cover only part of the area and the arrival of physical security can take tens of minutes, robotic devices are able to arrive at the scene within a few minutes and provide the operator in the control room with a direct view of the situation even before a person enters the site. This significantly reduces the risk of an unauthorized person moving around the premises unnoticed, while also increasing the safety of response teams, who have more accurate information at their disposal.
A robot arrives faster than a security guard. And a drone arrives even faster
The Computational Robotics Laboratory, operating within the Artificial Intelligence Center at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, has developed autonomous ground robotic systems that can reliably perform inspection drives even in environments without a GNSS signal, day or night. Verification took place both on campus at Karlovo náměstí and in real Czech critical infrastructure facilities.
"The main challenge was not to show that the robot can drive autonomously, but to integrate all the technologies into a single functional unit so that the end user has everything clearly arranged in one place. Our task was to develop a reliable surveillance and inspection robotic system that can move around the premises without GNSS and cope with various conditions, including darkness or reduced visibility," says Prof. Jan Faigl, head of the Computational Robotics Laboratory at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague.
According to Jan Faigl, an autonomous robot can often arrive at the scene of an incident much faster than security services – and provide key information for subsequent intervention. Researchers are now working on a follow-up project aimed at increasing the robots' resistance to fog, rain, snow, and sudden changes in the environment, bringing the technology closer to practical application in industrial practice.
AgentFly: drones with replaceable batteries and monitoring even in the dark
AgentFly Technologies supplied the project with its own drones and a robotic docking station that allows automatic battery replacement in two minutes – which significantly increases their operational availability.
"Our robotic station allows for fully autonomous battery replacement, so the drone can be back in the air within two minutes. This is a fundamental difference from conventional charging, which takes tens of minutes. We equipped the drones with a camera and a thermal imaging camera and enabled them to connect to other systems in a unified surveillance environment," says Milan Rollo, lead project researcher for AgentFly.
The drones were tested in simulations, in open spaces, and in real conditions at the ČEPRO and State Material Reserves Administration facilities. According to Milan Rollo, the behavior of the technology in changing conditions—from fog to ice on the propellers—proved to be key, which will be the main topic of follow-up research.
Z.L.D: connecting all information for operators in one system
Z.L.D. has developed an integrated operator environment that collects data from all autonomous robots, drones, cameras, sensors, and other sensory systems. This allows for real-time evaluation and automatic triggering of predefined processes.
"Our task was to combine all information from individual technologies into a single control and surveillance system used by security surveillance operators. Data from integrated static and dynamic sensors and cameras carried by patrol drones are evaluated in real time in the iVISEC system. The system immediately alerts the operator to an operational or security incident with an audible warning and displays camera footage from the scene and its surroundings on the control room's video wall. Thanks to process automation, the system also ensures that further steps are taken in the background in accordance with operational procedures – for example, details of the incident are sent to the nearest field unit," explains Karel Skokan from Z.L.D.
According to Karel Skokan, such integration is of fundamental importance for the future of security systems, and not only in industry. It enables rapid response within minutes, effective sharing of information from individual autonomous technologies, and, in addition, the provision of key information to other stakeholders responsible for protecting the health, lives, and property of the population. The exchange of key information is the basis for high-quality crisis management in the event of emergencies such as natural disasters, pandemics, industrial accidents, or hybrid forms of armed conflict.
Continuation of the project: from research to commercialization
Thanks to the unified operator environment developed by Z.L.D., it is possible to use not only data from robots, but also from cameras, sensors, and other sensors. The system can thus provide the operator with a real-time overview of events throughout the premises, alert them to suspicious situations, and help filter out normal operations from truly serious incidents. This integration also minimizes the need for physical patrols, which are not only time-consuming but also difficult to maintain in terms of personnel.
Another key benefit of the project is the verification of technologies directly in critical infrastructure facilities. Testing at the ČEPRO and State Material Reserves Administration sites made it possible to verify operation even in poor lighting conditions, without GNSS, and in changing seasonal conditions, which is crucial for their real-world deployment. The project has thus paved the way for further research aimed at the autonomy of individual technologies, greater resistance to adverse weather conditions, and the commercial use of these solutions in industry and security forces.
The Czech Ministry of the Interior has already confirmed funding for a follow-up project that will focus on long-term autonomy in demanding conditions, operability across seasons, and technological readiness for implementation in real-world operations.
About the ASCIP project
The ASCIP project was funded under the Open Call Program in Security Research 2023–2029. Its goal is to verify the possibilities of fully autonomous monitoring of industrial and infrastructure sites using cyber-physical systems. The consortium brings together experts in autonomous control, drone technology, security software, and the social aspects of security. Five partners are involved in the project: AgentFly Technologies (lead researcher), the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Z.L.D., Sherlog NG, and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University.
