In partnership with the Autonomy Institute, Ondas will offer aerial security and inspection services to various state and local entities including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) as well as commercial entities in Central Texas
Innovative Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) business model is believed to be the first of its kind deployed as shared drone infrastructure for public and private entities
Ten Optimus Systems will be strategically deployed as drone infrastructure along SH-130 in Austin, Texas
Ondas and the Autonomy Institute have entered into a transformative partnership aimed at redefining public safety, security, and critical infrastructure management. This groundbreaking collaboration will launch an innovative flagship project in Austin, Texas, highlighting the potential of scaled drone fleets as integral to smart city technologies. At the core of this initiative, Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) will establish an Intelligent Drone Network, with networked drone infrastructure deployed along Texas State Highway 130 (SH-130). This initiative marks a pivotal advancement in the evolution of urban technology, underscoring a commitment to enhancing efficiency and security in the provision of critical services and infrastructure provided by public and private entities on behalf of local communities.
Revolutionizing Public Safety and Critical Services Through Shared Infrastructure
The Intelligent Drone Network is designed for an initial deployment of ten Optimus Systems with drone zones
strategically positioned between the Circuit of the Americas and Georgetown, Texas. The Optimus System is uniquely suited for this purpose as the world's first drone platform designed to provide aerial security and intelligence to receive an FAA airworthiness certificate. A networked fleet of Optimus Systems will be provided as shared infrastructure to multiple stakeholders, including government entities such as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), local police and fire departments, Texas DOT, and others, as well as for private enterprises along the corridor supporting commercial activities including construction project management, perimeter security, and emergency response for real estate managers, warehouse , data centers, and critical infrastructure like electric substations and rail yards and many other local customers. The drone network will be provided under a Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) business model believed to be the first of its kind deployed as shared infrastructure for both public and private entities. Under this model, customers receive turnkey aerial services via an industrial network without the complication and costs of building internal drone operations and investing in drone fleets and regulatory solutions.
What makes this project truly groundbreaking is the approach to integration and accessibility. Each Optimus System can cover a 30-square-mile area, operating 24/7 thanks to automated battery swapping capabilities and all-weather operating capability. Additionally, these systems feature the ability to swap payloads, allowing services to adapt quickly to different tasks such as emergency response, surveillance, or inspection supported by data streams ranging from real-time video to LIDAR data collection. Optimus docking stations have integrated edge computing, enabling real-time data processing, analysis and the provision of intelligence close to the source of collection. This reduces latency, improves decision-making speed, and ensures efficient operations. All systems will be managed from a centralized Remote Operations Center (ROC), enabling immediate response to emergencies and efficient coordination of routine inspections without requiring on-site personnel. Further, the intelligence provided through data collection and AI-driven analytics provides customers with an on-demand business analyst capability.
Proven Success and Expanding Applications Supporting Economic Growth
The impact of this technology is already proven. Similar deployments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel have demonstrated significant improvements in emergency response times, security, construction project management and infrastructure monitoring efficiency. Indeed, the City of Austin has identified over 100 potential use cases across various departments, from emergency services to utility inspection and city planning. The data-driven intelligence offered by autonomous aerial drone services provides significant value to public safety organizations, operators of both public and private critical infrastructure, and commercial entities alike.
This Intelligent Drone Network deployment is particularly significant given the rapid economic growth being enjoyed along the SH-130 corridor, which hosts major companies including Tesla, Samsung, and Amazon, and a booming population with significant growth in critical infrastructure and numerous residential developments. The drone network will provide these communities with enhanced security, faster emergency response times, and improved infrastructure monitoring capabilities. The network’s modular implementation approach can be replicated in locations worldwide.
A Model for Public-Private Collaboration
Perhaps most importantly, this project demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in advancing smart city infrastructure. By sharing resources among multiple stakeholders, we're creating a more efficient and cost-effective solution that benefits the entire community. Successfully developing this model will enable rapid deployments throughout urban clusters and economic zones in Texas and across the United States. This scalable approach ensures that future large-scale initiatives and specific use cases can be quickly established, enhancing the infrastructure and security capabilities of cities nationwide. This model could serve as a template for similar deployments, facilitating widespread adoption and accelerating smart city transformation.
The network of drone zones is part of a broader Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone (IIEZ) being developed along SH-130 under the vision and leadership of the Autonomy Institute, involving collaboration with forward thinking technology leaders such as NVIDIA, Cisco, and Nokia. This vision is supported by state and local government agencies responsible for public safety and the provision of critical services and infrastructure to the local community. This comprehensive approach to infrastructure modernization positions Central Texas at the forefront of smart city innovation.
Looking Toward the Future
Ten strategically located site locations for drone zones have already been identified. Ondas, the Autonomy Institute and other local partners will develop and advance a complete operating plan which will include establishing the ROC and securing both the necessary regulatory approvals and commercial agreements with initial customers. We will develop an expanded ecosystem of technology partners in concert with a roadmap of advanced AI-enabled intelligent data applications. These turnkey services will be available to customers as soon as the drone zones are populated and related operating infrastructure is deployed.
As Ondas moves forward, we're not merely installing drone systems – we're laying the groundwork for a safer, more efficient future. The integration of autonomous operations controlled from a scalable ROC utilizing FAA certified drones ensures that the drone infrastructure and services meet rigorous safety standards, providing reliability and trust in their use for critical tasks. Shared infrastructure across the Intelligent Drone Network allows multiple stakeholders to benefit from the technology, optimizing resource use and reducing costs. Centralized management further enhances the system by enabling coordinated oversight, rapid response to incidents, and seamless execution of routine duties. Together, these elements represent the next evolution in public safety and infrastructure monitoring, setting a new standard for how cities and urban economic clusters can harness technology to support economic growth and ensure the security and well-being of their communities.
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Eric Brock is Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings (Nasdaq: ONDS) and Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS). OAS provides autonomous drone technologies and services to defense, government and critical industrial markets via its subsidiaries American Robotics and Airobotics.