Are New York’s finest now New York’s most autonomous? Ask Nightingale Intelligent Systems

The largest police department in the United States is set to unveil a squadron of drones that will act as first responders to scenes across the city, powered by artificial intelligence and supplied by drone company Nightingale Intelligent Systems (ASX: NGL).

The 3-year supply contract is with the unnamed Police Department but a simple Google search identifies the largest department in the United States as the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Confidentiality shrouds Nightingale’s announcements which did not disclose specific revenue figures, but the contract will see Nightingale supply Blackbird Security Drone systems which are already utilised by first responders in other cities across the United States, including some law enforcement agencies. 

“Nightingale is proud to partner with the largest Police Department in the USA, which has consistently been a pioneer in integrating technology into its crime-fighting strategies”, said Nightingale CEO, Jack Wu. 

“Our partnerships with US police departments exemplify Nightingale’s commitment to creating safer communities through the deployment of innovative drone technology”.

Nightingale’s Blackbird Security Drones will be strategically stationed in multiple locations, poised for swift deployment to various police precincts within the city. The integration of Nightingale’s Drone in a Box solution into the Police Department’s existing technology infrastructure is anticipated to act as a force multiplier, significantly enhancing the Police Department’s responsiveness during emergency situations.

Key advantages of Nightingale’s Blackbird Drones include extended coverage, reduced response times, and heightened situational awareness during critical incidents. The installation phase is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2024.

Beyond initial sales and service revenue, Nightingale is poised to generate recurring revenue through ongoing maintenance, repair, and upgrade services for each deployed Blackbird Drone system. Revenue recognition will be phased over the three-year term as units are deployed and services are carried out, aligning with Nightingale’s accounting standards.

The Police Department, encompassing over 70 precincts, presents a considerable market for Nightingale. The company’s overarching objective is to expand the existing contract, extending drone deployment to additional locations across the city. 

The contract’s revenue, if acknowledged in the current financial year, would contribute approximately 30% to Nightingale’s overall revenue according to their announcement.

For the six months ended 30 June 2023, Nightingale reported USD $368k revenue. 

The deployment is expected to fast-track Nightingale’s footprint in the market, with potential implications for expanding its Blackbird Drone systems to multiple police departments nationwide and even overseas.

Nightingale sees a substantial and readily addressable market within law enforcement for its AI-powered Blackbird Drones. With an estimated 15,000 police departments in the USA, approximately 3,000 boast 50 officers or more, and 700 surpass the 100-officer mark.

This recent agreement builds on Nightingale’s prior success with the San Pablo Police Department in September 2023, further reinforcing the company’s confidence in expediting adoption across various law enforcement agencies.