Sentinel Flight Services Trust Getac Rugged Technology at the Heart of its ISR Drone Solutions
/ Challenge /
Sentinel Flight Services provides cutting edge drone services and solutions to customers across a wide range of industries including agriculture, property, construction, public safety and defence. The demanding nature of drone flying operations, combined with the challenging environments in which Sentinel operates, makes the use of rugged technology an essential part of the company’s operational success.
/ Solution /
After a comprehensive assessment of the rugged technology landscape, Sentinel chose Getac as its technology partner of choice. Not only did the Getac team include numerous ex-public safety and defence professionals who had extensive knowledge of Sentinel’s key industries, but Getac’s comprehensive portfolio of rugged laptops, tablets and workstations also contained a range of devices that met Sentinel’s diverse needs.
/ Benefits /
With Getac as its preferred technology vendor, Sentinel knows it has a partner it can rely on. Getac’s rugged devices meet a wide range of complex requirements for both the company and its customers, while Getac’s experts understand the pressures faced to react quickly and help solve issues without unnecessary stress or complexity.
/ Challenge /
Based in London, UK, Sentinel Flight Services is a leading provider of cutting-edge drone photography, videography, surveying, intelligence, and counter drone services. The company works across a wide range of sectors, from agriculture, property and construction to public safety and defence. Sentinel also works in partnership with Greenjets, manufacturing and operating long-range, fixed wing, ISR aircraft powered by bespoke electric jet engines, which are quiet, safe and efficient, delivering over 1,000km of range with each flight – significantly more than conventional drones are capable of. ISR drones can also be fitted with numerous attachments, ranging from LIDAR to anti-jamming technology, depending on operational needs.
In addition to flight services, Sentinel also provides customers with complete end-to-end drone solutions, including the drones themselves, flight training, maintenance, and concept of operations. This includes recommendations on all the technology and digital devices needed to power and run flight operations, coordinate with key parties involved, and directly view the video feed coming from drones up in the sky.
However, the demanding nature of drone flying operations means standard consumer-grade laptops and tablets simply aren’t up to the job, as they are too prone to damage and failure while being transported and used in remote field-based locations. For this reason, Sentinel knew that only rugged technology would suffice.
“When it comes to end-to-end drone solutions and technology recommendations, our customers care about reliability above all else, particularly those in the safety and security industries,” says Adrian Rickett, CEO of Sentinel Flight Services. “If solutions fail in the field it causes serious issues, which is why rugged technology was the only viable option for us.”
/ Solution /
After a comprehensive assessment of rugged solution vendors, Sentinel quickly chose Getac as its technology partner of choice. Not only did the Getac team include numerous ex-public safety and defence professionals who had extensive knowledge of Sentinel’s key industries, but Getac’s comprehensive portfolio of rugged laptops, tablets and workstations also contained a range of devices that met Sentinel’s diverse needs:
- The Getac S510 is a versatile workhorse rugged laptop that’s ideally suited to everyday field operations. Featuring a powerful Intel® Core™ Ultra 5/7 processor, bright 15.6” screen and cutting-edge AI capabilities, it delivers uncompromising performance in challenging situations and adverse weather conditions.
- The Getac X600 is a mobile workstation that can be used at the heart of command-and-control operations in the field. Featuring a spacious 15.6” screen and market leading computing power in a fully rugged notebook chassis, the X600 delivers the high-end power needed to coordinate complex search and rescue efforts, share information in real-time and enable collaboration in remote locations.
- The Getac ZX80 Android tablet is a compact mobile powerhouse. Featuring fully rugged protection, an 8” screen and extensive battery life, it is small and lightweight enough to be used as a mobile ATAK device in the field, giving personnel on the ground direct access to video feeds from Sentinel’s ISR drones. The result is enhanced situational awareness in a wide range of environments.
/ Results /
With Getac as its preferred technology vendor, Sentinel knows it has a partner it can rely on. Not only do Getac’s rugged devices meet a wide range of complex requirements for both the company and its customers, but Sentinel personnel know they can pick up the phone at any time and speak directly with Getac experts who understand the pressures they face.
“From a commercial perspective, partnering with a leader in rugged technology like Getac is a no-brainer for us,” says Adrian. “But at a professional level, the Getac team is like an extension of Sentinel itself. They provide product support around the clock, deliver bespoke device orders with short lead times and solve issues quickly and efficiently whenever we need them to. That level of service is invaluable to us.”
As drone use becomes more prevalent over the coming months and years, Sentinel expects its partnership with Getac to go from strength to strength.
“We’re already seeing significant growth in areas such as counter drone operations, as governments around the world begin to realise the threat drone technology can pose to critical infrastructure when it’s in the wrong hands,” says Adrian. “In such scenarios, solution robustness and reliability become more important than ever and that’s where Sentinel and Getac excel together.”
/ ABOUT SENTINEL FLIGHT SERVICES /
Sentinel Flight Services prides itself on delivering top-tier drone services that capture breathtaking imagery, collect precise data, and unlock endless possibilities for clients across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, property, construction, public safety and defence.