Ondas' Cyberhawk Lands Multi-Year UK Power Grid Inspection Deal

Ondas's (ONDS) Cyberhawk subsidiary secured a multi-year agreement on September 28, 2026, with UK utility giant SSE plc for electricity network inspection and surveying. This is not a pilot program. This is a long-term, operational contract for autonomous security robotics in critical national infrastructure. The deal moves beyond proof-of-concept deployments and into sustained, recurring service revenue for drone-based asset management, a key indicator for scaling in the physical AI sector.

The agreement with SSE, a major player in the UK's energy transmission and distribution, suggests a growing acceptance of autonomous systems for tasks traditionally performed by human crews. This shift impacts operating costs, safety protocols, and the very structure of utility maintenance. The duration of the contract itself is significant, pointing to a deeper integration of robotic solutions into established operational frameworks.

The Mechanism of Autonomous Infrastructure Inspection

Autonomous inspection of critical infrastructure, like high-voltage power lines or pipelines, relies on a fusion of advanced robotics, sensor technology, and sophisticated AI. Drones, equipped with high-resolution optical cameras, thermal imagers, LiDAR, and sometimes gas sniffers, fly pre-programmed routes or adapt to real-time conditions using onboard AI. The core challenge is not just flight, but data acquisition and analysis at scale. A drone might capture terabytes of imagery and sensor data during a single mission. This raw data is then fed into AI models trained to identify anomalies: cracked insulators, corroded fittings, vegetation encroachment, or even subtle thermal signatures indicating impending equipment failure.

The value proposition sits squarely in efficiency and safety. Human inspectors face hazardous conditions, require extensive training, and cover less ground. Drones can operate in inclement weather, access difficult terrain, and collect data with repeatable precision. The bottleneck is often the post-processing and actionable insight generation. Early systems required significant human review of the collected data. Modern platforms use AI for automated defect detection, classification, and even predictive maintenance recommendations. This reduces the time from data collection to maintenance dispatch. For this to matter, the AI must deliver a low false-positive rate and accurately identify critical issues, otherwise, the cost savings from automated data collection are negated by increased human verification time. The ability to integrate this data directly into a utility's existing asset management and work order systems is crucial for widespread adoption.

Companies Operating in Autonomous Security Robotics and Guarding Services

The autonomous security robotics and guarding services market spans a range of applications, from stationary surveillance units to mobile patrol robots and aerial inspection drones. Each company addresses specific niches within this expanding sector.

Ondas Inc. (ONDS), with a market price of $7.48, operates through its subsidiaries, including Ondas Networks and American Robotics. The recent SSE plc deal highlights Cyberhawk's role in industrial drone services, specifically for critical infrastructure. American Robotics focuses on fully autonomous drone systems for industrial applications, emphasizing 'drone-in-a-box' solutions that remove the need for human pilots on-site. Ondas Networks develops private industrial wireless networks, which are foundational for reliable, real-time data transmission from autonomous systems in remote or challenging environments.

Unusual Machines, Inc. (UMAC), trading at $24.94, recently invested $10 million into Draganfly, a drone manufacturer. This move suggests a focus on scaling drone manufacturing capabilities and potentially expanding its hardware offerings. Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (RCAT), priced at $6.45, is known for its drone platforms and software, with a particular emphasis on defense and public safety applications, including counter-drone technologies. The company's 2026 targets indicate a focus on aggressive growth in the latter half of the year.

In the physical security space, Axon Enterprise (AXON), with a price of $297.00, is a dominant player in law enforcement technology, providing body cameras, Tasers, and a cloud-based evidence management platform. While not directly building autonomous security robots for guarding, their extensive network and integration into public safety infrastructure position them as a potential platform for future autonomous solutions. Axon's Q3 results are expected to be in-line, according to RBC.

Robotics for specific tasks also sees companies like Serve Robotics Inc. (SERV), at $4.63, targeting last-mile delivery with autonomous sidewalk robots. Serve Robotics aims for a significant share of the estimated $450 billion market. Arbe Robotics Ltd. (ARBE), priced at $0.608, focuses on high-resolution 4D imaging radar for autonomous vehicles and other applications, crucial for advanced perception in complex environments. Arbe recently closed a $15 million underwritten registered direct offering.

Other companies contribute key components. Kopin Corporation (KOPN), trading at $4.75, develops micro-displays and optical solutions, essential for augmented reality and virtual reality interfaces that could be used by human operators interacting with autonomous systems. Fabric.AI recently filed patents for fiber-coupled and connector-free MicroLED optical interconnects developed with Kopin. Lantronix, Inc. (LTRX), at $7.22, provides embedded computing and networking solutions, critical for connecting and managing fleets of autonomous devices. MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS), priced at $1.46, develops LiDAR technology, a core sensor for autonomous navigation and object detection. BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI), at $2.65, provides AI-powered analytics and decision intelligence, which can be applied to optimize autonomous system deployments and data interpretation.

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc.

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (AITX), trading over-the-counter at $0.0027, develops and leases AI-driven security robots and remote monitoring systems. The company operates through a Solutions-as-a-Service model, focusing on recurring monthly subscriptions rather than outright hardware sales. This approach aims to provide cost savings of 35% to 80% compared to traditional manned security services in the estimated $50 billion US market.

AITX's operations are structured around three main pillars: stationary security devices (RAD-I), mobile autonomous platforms (RAD-M), and the SARA agentic artificial intelligence platform (RAD-G). RAD-I markets a suite of stationary devices. RAD-M includes the ROAMEO mobile security unit, which began early commercial deployment in May 2026. RAD-G is intended to generate revenue through SARA platform licensing. A wholly-owned subsidiary, RAD Lanka, located in Sri Lanka, handles software development, AI initiatives, and technical operations. The company envisions an integrated autonomous-security deployment across campuses or jurisdictions, which it refers to as "RAD Town."

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2026, AITX reported revenue of $7,745,336, a 26% increase year-over-year. Gross profit rose 48% to $5,533,700, expanding gross margin to approximately 71% from 61%. Operating expenses remained stable at about $17,477,097, leading to an improved operating loss of $(11,943,397). The net loss for the year was approximately $14.5 million, with an accumulated deficit of $171 million as of February 28, 2026. The company had negative cash flow from operating activities of $9,344,534 for the same period and negative working capital of $17,017,745. The public record does not yet establish a clear path to sustained positive cash flow from operations. AITX's filings indicate that management does not anticipate positive cash flow from operations in the near term. The company has stated intentions for RAD-I's recurring revenue and gross margin to support positive cash flow operations on a standalone basis, and for RAD-M to surpass RAD-I's monthly recurring revenue contribution at some future point. It also expects subscription gross margin to exceed 75% and outright-sale gross margin to exceed 50%, based on pricing the market has "appeared to accept" and stable input costs. The company recently updated hardware pricing to reflect rising materials, compute, and transportation costs. AITX also expanded a national dealer relationship with a third order on September 23, 2026.

What to watch

• Ondas (ONDS) SSE Contract Extension/Expansion: The multi-year nature of the SSE plc deal is key. Watch for any public statements regarding the scope of work, geographic expansion within SSE's network, or additional services deployed under this agreement.
• AITX (AITX) Revenue and Cash Flow Progression: The company's filings indicate an accumulated deficit and negative working capital. Monitor subsequent 8-K and 10-Q filings for any material changes in revenue growth, gross margin, and specifically, progress towards positive cash flow from operations, particularly from its RAD-I and RAD-M segments.
• Unusual Machines (UMAC) Draganfly Integration: The $10 million investment in Draganfly (UMAC) suggests a strategic partnership. Watch for announcements regarding joint product development, manufacturing scale-up, or new market entries resulting from this collaboration.
• Axon (AXON) Q3 Results: RBC expects in-line results, but any deviation, positive or negative, could signal shifts in the broader public safety technology market, which influences the adoption of advanced security solutions.
• Arbe Robotics (ARBE) Radar Deployments: Following its $15 million offering, watch for announcements of new design wins or commercial deployments of Arbe's 4D imaging radar in autonomous systems, particularly in non-automotive sectors like industrial security or logistics.

, { "label": "Drone Deployment", "note": "Autonomous drones collect high-res data", "metric": "Multi-Year Deal" }, { "label": "Data Capture", "note": "Cameras, thermal, LiDAR gather terabytes of data" }, { "label": "AI Analysis", "note": "AI models detect anomalies, predict failures" }, { "label": "Actionable Insight", "note": "Maintenance dispatched based on AI findings" } ], "highlight": 3, "highlight_note": "AI's accuracy in anomaly detection dictates operational efficiency and trust.", "footnote": "Source: Ondas Inc. (ONDS) 2026-09-28 news release" }