The 60th Air Mobility Wing, 60th Security Forces Squadron, in conjunction with Easy Aerial, a commercial provider of autonomous drone-based monitoring solutions, has developed and deployed the first automated drone-based monitoring and perimeter security system for a United States Air Force (USAF) installation.
The Smart Air Force Monitoring System (SAFMS) free-flight drone-in-a-box solution, along with a tethered (SAFMS-T) version, was developed by Easy Aerial and the USAF in a span of just two years. The work was done under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program and conforms to the Air Force Base Perimeter Security and Situational Awareness operational requirements.
After a long process, the program has entered an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) phase where the systems have been approved for flight by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and have begun operations at Travis AFB. The systems provide autonomous scheduled and on-demand flights that transmit the real-time HD and thermal data needed to protect both airmen and assets against airborne, ground, and potentially water-based threats in all environments.
“Easy Aerial’s unmanned aerial systems are a game-changer,” said MSgt Joshua Hicks, Travis AFB 60th SFS small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) instructor. “This jointly developed technology will provide unparalleled security and safety for our airmen and critical assets. They will potentially save lives and will save time, effort, and resources as we continue to expand our training and operations across the base.”
SAFMS and SAFMS-T have been configured to ensure Travis AFB has options for an immediate eye in the sky that can be deployed in a matter of seconds. Upon receiving a security trigger such as a fence alarm, fire alarm, or other distress calls, the SAFMS can be programmed to deploy from its base station automatically and autonomously navigates to the trigger site location providing complete unparalleled situational awareness. Upon completing the mission, the drone autonomously returns to and lands inside the protective base station, where it will recharge and wait for the next scheduled patrol or security triggered mission.
SAFMS and SAFMS-T systems consist of three main components:
Easy Guard: A mobile, durable, and weatherproof self-sustaining base station that fully charges the SAFMS drone in as little as 35 minutes using an internal battery. Any power source, including solar, can charge the battery. SAFMS-T features a smart tether-line that maintains tension and supplies constant power and two-way communication to the drone, and is capable of unlimited flight time. To ensure precise, reliable, and sustained operations, the base station features GPS; the option of cellular, radio, or satellite communications; wind and temperature sensors; and internal and external cameras. Each SAFMS drone can take off and land at different base stations, thus facilitating constant monitoring while recharging at multiple locations.
Falcon: An autonomous high-performance drone with a modular payload system. A durable and lightweight carbon fiber airframe enables it to carry various gimbaled payloads, including optical and IR cameras, floodlights, or speakers, for extended flight times of up to 45 minutes. Falcon’s all-weather capability enables it to fly in fog, rain, snow, and high winds without compromising its mission.
ERMS: Easy Remote Monitoring System – A secure communications and fleet operations platform enabling automated missions from a command center anywhere in the world. ERMS features advanced mission planning with manual control override, flight telemetry, smart geofencing, camera controls, and real-time video feeds for persistent, 360-degree situational awareness.
“The opportunity to partner with the USAF and UAS working group at Travis AFB has been a tremendous honor and privilege,” said Ivan Stamatovski, CTO, Easy Aerial. “I was humbled by the collective expertise, insight, and vision of this highly dedicated team without whom none of this could have been possible.”
“This was a joint effort as we worked closely together from start to finish resulting in a customized solution for the USAF that meets all of their operational desires and requirements, all while providing operational safety to the airmen and assets. Their attention to detail and identification of the operational capabilities that needed to be modified and introduced was astounding,” said Stamatovski.
Having already realized measurable benefits from deploying SAFMS and SAFMS-T for base security at Travis AFB, multiple Air Mobility Command units and the Air Force Security Forces Center are exploring additional applications, including critical infrastructure and aircraft inspection, firefighting, asset protection, event monitoring, and surveillance.
