The standard comparison when evaluating security robotics is straightforward: what does it cost to provide X coverage with human guards, and what does it cost to provide equivalent or better coverage with autonomous robots? The answer consistently favors automation — but the magnitude of the difference surprises most security managers who haven't run the full calculation.
The Real Cost of 24/7 Guard Coverage
A single guard position providing 24/7 coverage requires 4.2 full-time employees when you account for shift coverage, vacation, sick time, and turnover. At $18–22/hour for a security associate plus benefits, that's $160,000–$210,000 per position per year in fully loaded labor cost.
Most industrial facilities require 2–4 guards per shift for adequate perimeter coverage, bringing 24/7 guard cost to $320,000–$840,000 annually. Add management overhead, uniforms, training, and the ongoing cost of turnover (the contract security industry runs 100–300% annual turnover) and the operational cost is substantial.
What Robotic Patrol Costs
The Asylon DroneDog and Guardian system operates on a managed service model. Total cost of deployment varies by facility size and coverage requirements, but Asylon's published benchmark is "up to 50% reduction in operating security costs" for facilities transitioning from human patrol programs to robotic patrol. That range — combined with the patrol quality improvements — represents a compelling ROI in most cases.
The comparison isn't just cost per hour, it's cost per patrol. A human guard can reasonably conduct 3–4 full perimeter rounds per shift. The DroneDog system conducts significantly more. The security coverage quality — number of rounds, consistency of route, documentation fidelity — is substantially higher with robotic patrol even at equivalent or lower cost.
What Stays Human
Robotic patrol doesn't replace all security functions. Access control and badging, physical response to confirmed incidents, visitor management, and the judgment calls that experienced security professionals make in complex situations all require humans. The most effective deployments we see use robotic patrol to reduce the headcount required for routine patrols, freeing human security staff for higher-value work.
Read our detailed analysis of autonomous security in the Houston market for more on how these deployments are structured. Contact Actel Robotics for a security assessment at your facility.