Drones Using AI to Spot Violent Behavior in Crowds

Drones Using AI to Spot Violent Behavior in Crowds

Researchers are pairing artificial intelligence and drones in the latest experiment to prevent crimes before they happen.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jun 11, 2018

Researchers are pairing artificial intelligence and drones in the latest experiment to prevent crimes before they happen.

In a paper titled, "Eye in the Sky" the researchers describe a system that uses a drone to transmit video footage over a mobile internet connection for real-time analysis. An algorithm trained using deep learning estimates the poses of humans in the video and matches them to postures the researches have designated as "violent."

For the purposes of the project, just five poses are included: strangling, punching, kicking, shooting and stabbing. To train and test their AI, the researchers had their own video clips of volunteers pretending to attack one another. The volunteers are generously spaced apart and attack one another with exaggerated movements.

The researchers have acknowledged that this isn't a perfect system and as of now their research was only 94 percent accurate in identifying violent poses. (The more people in the frame, the system was only79 percent accurate in finding the violent poses.)

The next step is to use the system in real-life events. There can often be a large disconnect between stages and real events, but researchers hope to test and teach the AI to learn more about the video being taken at these events. 

The researchers hope that the system will be used to detect crime in public spaces at large events. Lead researcher Amarjot Singh told The Verge that he was inspired to create the system after events like the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. Singh told reporters that attacks like this could be prevented in the future if surveillance cameras can automatically spot suspicious behavior, like someone leaving a bag unattended for a long period of time.

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.