As Israel looks for faster ways to handle emergencies, locate victims, and manage threats, civilian tech companies are introducing new tools, from long-range hydrogen drones to agile robot dogs that can create 3D maps of spaces and communicate with trapped people or suspects.
On Wednesday, dozens of drone companies showed off their wares at the 13th annual UVID conference in Tel Aviv. One of those companies, Gadfin, describes itself as the “future of drone logistics,” key to creating a safe and reliable supply chain “where even the most deserted spot is easily accessible.”
Founded and led by Eyal Regev, Gadfin develops technology for cargo deliveries using hydrogen-fueled, all-weather, long-range, heavy-duty drones.
With three distinct drones planned, Gadfin aims to be able to reach a large number of locations with a range of different loads. While its “Spirit-One” electric long-range aircraft can carry a load of 10 kg., the under-development Spirit-X, described as a “ramped-up version of the Spirit-One,” will be able to carry a load of 150 kg.
With a range from 250 to 280 kilometers, Gadfin’s systems could reach most of Israel.
Speaking to Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post at UVID, an official from the company said that there were no plans to introduce the company to the defense sector in the future.
Unmanned ground vehicles
In a country known for its innovative tech companies, drones are commonplace and might be able to solve one part of the problem. Ground robotics are tackling another, namely how to navigate dangerous, tight, or underground spaces.
Founded in 2020, Netanya-based Neuronics has years of expertise in “powering intelligence for defense systems in the field of video and AI integration for UAVs” and recently began experimenting with attaching its systems to mobile ground robots.
These robots, resembling dogs and developed by another company, have the capability of being sent into situations instead of risking human lives.
While remote-controlled robots have been used by the Israel Police (particularly bomb squads) for years, their expense makes it hard to consistently deploy them in the field. These robot dogs, whose production costs are around $15,000 per unit, are far more viable and can be used on a much larger scale than previous models.
However, the biggest advantage to these robots is the cameras that Neuronics attaches to them. Through advanced technology, a dog that has been sent into an unknown space can provide a 3D map of the space to the operator, an immensely useful resource.
Speakers attached to the unit also permit real-time conversations with subjects, allowing the robot to act as a proxy for the operator.
While a product such as this could have its uses on the battlefield, its civilian uses are far more numerous, an official involved with the product told D&T at the conference. Going on to describe their potential uses as search-and-rescue and police tools, the official made it clear that the civilian use potential for the robots is the highest priority.
Civilians are the priority
While Israel has long been recognized as one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries, significant gaps in its emergency response infrastructure have been exposed. Start-ups specializing in logistics drones, autonomous ground robots, and low-cost rescue technologies are emerging as crucial components of home-front preparedness.
These systems, not designed for warfare, are built to save time, effort, and human lives in areas where speed and mobility can be the difference between life and death.
This shift shows that homeland security is no longer just a matter for the military. Civilian tech companies now produce solutions that police units and medical professionals can deploy immediately. As Israel assesses its vulnerabilities, these technologies are becoming central in keeping its population safe.