Always Ready to Respond: Reliable Power Solutions for Autonomous Property Protection

Our success story with Sunflower Labs®

Continuous surveillance plays an important role in securing large commercial, industrial, and residential properties. A central pillar of this modern security infrastructure is the intelligent and fully autonomous drone solution developed by Sunflower Labs®. To generate reliable security data, the "Bee" drone and its "Hive" base station must be precise, durable, and, above all, ready for operation at all times. A joint project with Bicker Elektronik demonstrates how a significant technical hurdle was overcome: ensuring a reliable and integrable emergency power supply for outdoor use.

The Challenge: Safe Operation even in the Event of a Power Failure
To achieve the most comprehensive monitoring possible, the Beehive system must be able to perform control flights or return to the base station even if the local grid fails. To avoid system downtime, the Beehive base station required an integrated UPS solution. The problem? The solution had to provide high power output while fitting into the extremely limited space available within the "Hive" housing.

However, for valid 24/7 security, the system must operate without interruption. This necessitated an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) solution that could:

• Fit into the compact and limited installation space of the base station.

• Withstand extreme outdoor temperature fluctuations (-20 to +55 °C).

• Provide a backup operation of at least one hour for the base station and control unit.

The Solution: Intelligent DC UPS with LiFePO4 Technology
Bicker Elektronik’s engineers met these requirements with a space-saving 24V DC UPS solution, combining the UPSI-2406 charging and control module with a high-performance battery pack. The core of the system is built around Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology.

Technical Highlights:

• DC UPS Charging & Control: During normal operation, the UPSI-2406 passes the 24V DC supply voltage to the system while simultaneously charging and monitoring the energy storage.

• Seamless Transition: In the event of a power failure or brownout, a MOSFET switch disconnects the input within microseconds. The energy storage then powers the "Hive" and its control unit uninterrupted.

• Longevity & Cycle Stability: With over 6,000 charge cycles, the LiFePO4 technology offers a significant advantage for safety-relevant applications compared to traditional battery chemistries.

• Intelligent Monitoring: An integrated Battery Management System (BMS) with cell balancing and an I2C interface ensures maximum operational safety and optimised service life.

Conclusion and Benefits
This collaboration resulted in a cost-effective and reliable "set-and-forget" solution that ensures the Beehive system remains ready for action even during power disturbances.

"The DC UPS from Bicker Elektronik has proven to be an excellent solution for us to bridge power failures. The compact size and seamless integration fit our requirements perfectly." — Jakub Stano, Head of Product, Sunflower Labs®

This project highlights that the success of autonomous security concepts depends not only on advanced drone technology but also on intelligent, ruggedised power solutions that ensure the system remains functional when it matters most.