Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need
to Know
Last updated: July 25, 2026
This page answers the most common questions about autonomous warehouse inventory drones (Corvus One™), industrial inspection robots (Boston Dynamics Spot™), and outdoor security robots (Ghost Robotics Vision 60™ and Asylon DroneDog™). Topics include deployment timelines, RaaS pricing, WMS integration, cold chain operation, and ROI expectations for distribution centers, refineries, and industrial facilities.
Answers to the most common questions about drone warehouse inventory drones, Boston Dynamics Spot inspection robots, autonomous security, deployment timelines, pricing, and WMS integration.
🚁 Corvus One Warehouse Drone
No. Corvus One requires no Wi-Fi, no GPS, no reflectors, no stickers, and no modifications to your racking. The only facility requirements are a power outlet and an ethernet drop at each drone cradle location — typically mounted at the end of existing product racks without any structural changes.
Corvus One is 20× faster than manual cycle counts. It scans approximately 250 slots per hour at 90%+ travel efficiency. A real-world example: a facility that previously required 130 people working around the clock for a physical inventory completed the same scan overnight — then used 8 people and 4 scissor lifts to resolve exceptions in just 3 hours.
Corvus One operates in aisles as narrow as 50 inches (127 cm) — including very narrow aisle (VNA) configurations where pivot trucks or other vehicles are impractical. It uses 360° obstacle avoidance and 3D planning algorithms to safely navigate in tight spaces.
Yes. Corvus One flies at walking speed and is non-disruptive to normal warehouse operations. If it detects a forklift, person, or robot in its path, it automatically ascends or reroutes to avoid the obstacle and resumes its mission. It can operate during day shifts, off-shifts, or lights-out — whatever cadence your operation requires.
drone integrates with most major WMS platforms. WMS integration is included in the installation package — the system creates a bidirectional sync so inventory discrepancies auto-populate in your WMS for correction. Specific compatibility is confirmed during the pre-deployment phase. drone requires that customers have an existing WMS, as the system's value depends on comparing scanned data against your system of record.
Corvus One reads any barcode symbology in any orientation placed on the front face of cartons or pallets. This includes standard 1D barcodes, 2D codes (QR, Data Matrix), and LPN labels. The AI model is trained on your specific facility's labels during installation, improving accuracy over subsequent flights through machine learning.
Within 3 months of deployment, drone commits to 98%+ scanning accuracy, improving to 99%+ with continuous software and ML model updates. Live customer deployments have documented improvements from 83.6% pre-drone to 99.5% post-drone inventory accuracy within the same period.
🥶 Cold Chain & Frozen Environments
Yes. Corvus One for Cold Chain is rated for continuous operation in environments as cold as -20°F. It is the only Corvus One specifically engineered for frozen and refrigerated storage — including sub-zero distribution centers and cold chain 3PL facilities.
Yes. drone uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with adaptive vision control specifically tuned for cold chain conditions. The system reads frosted, ice-coated, low-contrast, and damaged labels from multiple angles — something that challenges human scanners and most camera systems.
No. Corvus One requires no lighting adjustments for cold chain operation. It operates in complete darkness (lights-out freezer environments) using its onboard camera array and AI navigation — the same lights-out capability that enables overnight ambient warehouse operation.
Cold chain environments have the highest ROI profile because the baseline manual counting cost is so elevated. Worker time-in-zone limits, PPE requirements, and injury risk significantly increase the true cost of manual counts. Eliminating human entry for routine counting while dramatically increasing count frequency directly reduces shrinkage, spoilage write-offs, and compliance risk. Use our ROI Calculator with the Frozen environment setting for a facility-specific estimate.
🧠 Technology & AI
drone uses a proprietary AI-based navigation stack — not traditional computer vision or GPS — that builds a high-fidelity map of your facility during the initial deployment phase. The ML model is trained on your specific warehouse layout and improves with every flight. This is what makes drone unique: learning-based autonomy that gets more accurate the longer it operates in your facility.
Layout changes (new aisles, relocated racks, added product zones) can be updated remotely through software — no re-deployment of engineers required for most changes. The drone's AI model adapts to new obstacles and configurations within a few flights of the updated zone.
Corvus One (Autonomous Inventory Management System) provides:
- Inventory accuracy comparison (pre vs. post-drone)
- Location coverage tracking and audit progress
- Flight scheduling calendar (aisle-by-aisle, recurring missions)
- Space utilization analysis (fill %, consolidation opportunities)
- Discrepancies by category (quantity mismatch, wrong slot, missing, unexpected occupancy)
- Slot-level drill-down with video, barcode data, AI audit suggestions
- WMS sync for correction workflow
📦 Deployment Process
The typical timeline from proposal to go-live is approximately 3 months: Today (Proposal) → Tomorrow (Sign RaaS, secure deployment slot) → 1 Month (Pre-deploy: WMS integration, facility prep) → 2 Months (drone engineers onsite 1-2 weeks for install, mapping, test flights) → 3 Months (Go Live on Corvus One). Actel Robotics manages this entire process as your systems integrator.
Your facility needs to provide:
- Power outlets and ethernet drops at each drone cradle location (1-2 per aisle bay)
- Scissor lift access during the installation week for cradle mounting
- WMS API access for integration configuration
- A point-of-contact for the deployment team during the onsite period
The drone cradle is the all-in-one orchestration station — it charges the drone autonomously, stores and processes inventory data locally, and mounts onto your existing racking without any structural modification. Cradles are installed at the ends of product racks by drone engineers during the deployment week. There is no permanent alteration to your facility.
The number of drones and cradles is determined during the facility assessment based on your total racked square footage, number of aisles, desired coverage frequency, and shift schedule. Actel Robotics delivers a specific drone + pad count recommendation as part of the proposal. Larger facilities typically deploy multiple drones operating in parallel zones for complete coverage within your target time window.
💰 Pricing & ROI
drone operates on a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model — a monthly subscription that includes hardware, the Corvus One software platform, maintenance (batteries, propellers, drone RMAs), and customer success support for the full contract term. There is no large upfront capital expenditure. This preserves your OpEx budget structure and eliminates maintenance uncertainty. Contact us for facility-specific pricing.
For most mid-size distribution facilities (100K–300K sq ft, 2-4 FTEs dedicated to counting), payback periods range from 10–22 months. Cold chain / frozen facilities typically achieve faster payback (8–14 months) because baseline manual counting costs are significantly higher. Use our free Drone ROI Calculator for a facility-specific projection using your actual FTE count, hourly rate, write-offs, and MHE costs.
The main ROI drivers are:
- Labor reallocation: 60% reduction in FTE time spent on cycle counting
- Write-off reduction: Improved accuracy (typically +10-15 percentage points) reduces shrinkage and spoilage
- MHE savings: Forklifts and scissor lifts no longer diverted from productive operations for counting runs
- Increased count frequency: Moving from 2× per year to 26×+ per year catches discrepancies before they become expensive
- First Run Rate improvement: Better accuracy means fewer failed picks and rush freight charges
🐕 Boston Dynamics Spot — Inspection
Spot conducts autonomous inspection across a wide range of environments and asset types:
- Industrial equipment (motors, pumps, compressors) — visual, thermal, and acoustic
- Electrical infrastructure (substations, switchgear, transformers) — thermal anomaly detection
- Pipelines and pressure vessels — visual and acoustic leak detection
- Confined spaces and elevated structures — accessible without scaffolding or PPE
- Construction site progress documentation
- Data center hot aisle / cold aisle thermal monitoring
Boston Dynamics' published benchmark is upward of $200,000 in savings per site per year, with customers averaging ROI in just over 12 months. National Grid reported $150,000–$200,000 in annual labor cost savings per substation site. The primary savings drivers are: avoided unplanned downtime, early fault detection enabling repair vs. replace decisions, energy savings from leak detection, and inspection labor reduction.
No. Boston Dynamics Spot is a ground-based quadruped robot — it walks on four legs, it does not fly. FAA regulations do not apply. For indoor warehouse drone operations, FAA Part 107 also does not apply as the drones operate exclusively indoors. Actel Robotics handles all necessary permitting and compliance documentation as part of the deployment process.
Spot is purpose-built for environments too dangerous for humans — including energized electrical zones, radioactive areas, chemical exposure zones, and structurally unstable areas. It can be operated remotely from a safe location, maintaining a live video and sensor feed while the robot navigates the hazardous area. This eliminates the need for PPE, work permits, and personnel exposure in high-risk environments.
Spot averages about 90 minutes of active runtime per charge from its 564 Wh battery, and a depleted battery recharges in roughly 60 minutes. Paired with a self-charging dock, Spot runs continuous autonomous rounds indefinitely — patrolling, returning to dock, recharging, and redeploying without human intervention. Actel sizes each inspection route to Spot's runtime so missions complete on a single charge.
Yes. Spot is a 360°-aware quadruped built for unstructured sites: it autonomously ascends and descends standard industrial staircases, steps over obstacles up to 300 mm (11.8 in), and handles slopes up to ±30° across gravel, grates, curbs, and cluttered floors. Its perception system maps terrain in real time and replans each footfall, so Spot self-rights and reroutes around obstacles instead of requiring cleared paths.
Spot uses Autowalk: an operator drives the route once on a tablet, tagging inspection actions (thermal readings, gauge captures, acoustic scans), and Spot then repeats that mission autonomously — on demand or on a set schedule. It captures the same data points every run for trend analysis and returns to its dock to self-charge. Missions are scheduled and dispatched centrally through Boston Dynamics' Orbit fleet software, enabling unattended 24/7 rounds with automated threshold alerts.
Spot carries an IP54 rating, protecting it against dust and water splashes from any direction — suitable for rain, dust, and light-washdown zones (not submersion). It operates across roughly -20°C to 45°C, covering most indoor and outdoor industrial conditions, letting it inspect substations, refineries, and yards in weather that would sideline personnel. For sustained sub-freezing operation, Actel recommends a heated charging dock.
🤖 Locus Robotics — Fulfillment AMRs
Locus Robotics makes collaborative autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for order fulfillment. LocusBots use a "bring-to-associate" model: robots travel the aisles and pick paths while human pickers stay in a zone, placing items into the bot's totes. This removes 50–70% of unproductive walking time. The LocusOne platform orchestrates the fleet and integrates with your WMS to receive orders and return pick confirmations in real time.
Locus consistently delivers a 2×–3× increase in units picked per hour (UPH) per associate by eliminating travel time — facilities commonly move from a 60–90 UPH baseline to 250+ UPH while sustaining 99.9%+ order accuracy. Published customer results include Dental City (300% productivity gain), Staples Canada (doubled productivity), and APL Logistics (122% increase).
Locus offers a family of AMRs for different tasks:
- Locus Origin — agile fulfillment bot, 80 lb (36 kg) payload, ~14-hour runtime
- Locus Vector — omnidirectional material-handling AMR, up to 600 lb (272 kg)
- Locus Max — heavy-payload bot for cartons and pallets, up to 3,000 lb
- Locus Array — fully autonomous picking system with an AI-vision robotic arm
Locus pioneered the industry-first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. Instead of a large upfront capital purchase, customers pay a recurring subscription that bundles the robots, software, maintenance, and updates — shifting automation from CapEx to a predictable operating expense. It also lets warehouses scale bots up for peak season and down afterward, with continuous access to the latest hardware and platform improvements.
Deployment is fast because Locus integrates with your current WMS, racking, and workflows rather than rebuilding them. Typical go-live runs about 4–8 weeks from kickoff — covering WMS integration, workflow design, robot delivery, and associate training. Bots arrive, connect to the WMS, and run within days, and associates need only minimal training. One customer reached 1 million picks just 70 days after going live.
Yes. The LocusOne platform connects to virtually any WMS — Manhattan, Blue Yonder, Körber, SAP, and others — through proven APIs, exchanging order and inventory data in real time and returning pick confirmations and exceptions. LocusBots navigate your existing aisles and shelving with no new racking, magnetic strips, or facility modifications, a key advantage over fixed-infrastructure automation.
Yes. LocusBots handle picking, putaway, replenishment, sortation, point-to-point transport, and milk runs, with heavier Vector and Max bots moving cases and pallets. Locus Array adds a fully autonomous robots-to-goods system — a mobile base with an AI-vision robotic arm that picks, putaways, and replenishes directly in the aisle, targeting up to a 90% reduction in manual labor. Locus has surpassed 6 billion robot-assisted picks across 350+ sites worldwide.
🛡️ Security & Surveillance Robots
Robotic patrol systems offer several advantages over traditional guard patrols:
- No shift changes, no call-outs, no fatigue — 24/7 coverage at consistent quality
- Documented evidence on every patrol — video and audio capture automatically archived
- Instant response: If the robot detects a person, it pauses, activates AV lights, captures PTZ/pano/thermal images, and sends an alert in seconds — not minutes
- Deterrence effect: A visible robot patrol changes the risk calculation for potential intruders
Actel Robotics deploys three security platforms depending on the environment:
- Boston Dynamics Spot: Indoor/outdoor facility patrol, combined inspection + security missions
- Ghost Robotics Vision 60: Ruggedized outdoor perimeter security, all-terrain operation, same platform trusted for military/government applications
- Asylon Robotics drone-in-a-box: Aerial perimeter surveillance for large properties, automated takeoff/patrol/landing with no pilot required
🐾 Ghost Robotics Vision 60
Yes. The Vision 60 carries an IP67 rating — fully dust-tight and submersible in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes — for true all-weather, all-terrain operation in rain, mud, dust, and snow. Its operating temperature range is -40°C to 55°C (-40°F to 131°F). This sealed, wide-temperature envelope is why it's chosen for unsheltered outdoor perimeter patrol where lighter commercial robots can't run.
The Vision 60 is built for long autonomous outdoor shifts: about 3 hours of continuous walking and roughly 10 km of range per charge (terrain- and payload-dependent), with up to 21 hours in standby. It has a tare weight of 51 kg (112 lb) and carries a modular payload up to 10 kg (22 lb) — enough for a stacked thermal/PTZ camera, LiDAR, RTK GPS, and radio repeater simultaneously. Automated charging docks enable 24/7 coverage.
Yes to both. Its 12-motor back-drivable drivetrain supports inverted operation, so the robot self-rights and keeps walking after a fall or rollover — critical for unattended patrols. It also runs a "blind mode": using inertial and joint sensors, it keeps walking, climbs stairs, and traverses obstacles even when its cameras are obscured by smoke, dust, glare, or total darkness, so a night patrol never strands on a stumble.
Yes — a strong defense pedigree is why it's trusted for high-security perimeters. The U.S. Air Force's 325th Security Forces Squadron at Tyndall AFB began fielding Vision 60 Q-UGVs for base patrol in 2022, and the U.S. Space Force demonstrated them for security patrols at Cape Canaveral. The platform has also been evaluated for border-security applications, and accepts CBRN, radiation, thermal, and acoustic payloads beyond typical commercial security kits.
Both are quadrupeds built for different jobs. Spot (~31 kg) is a general-purpose commercial/industrial inspection platform with a splash- and dust-resistant IP54-class rating. The Vision 60 (51 kg) is purpose-engineered for rugged outdoor and defense use: a fully sealed IP67 body, a wider -40°C to 55°C range, self-righting inverted operation, and blind-mode walking. For unsheltered, all-weather perimeter security, the Vision 60's sealing and durability are decisive; for indoor/mixed inspection, Spot's software ecosystem leads.
🚁 Asylon — Aerial Drone Security
Asylon's Guardian is an FAA-compliant "drone-in-a-box" that operates with no on-site pilot. The drone autonomously launches from a base station, flies scheduled perimeter patrols or alarm-triggered responses, streams live day/night and thermal (EO/IR) video, then lands and swaps its own battery in under 3 minutes to stay mission-ready. It delivers 30+ minutes of flight per mission, a 35 mph top speed, and 25 mph wind resistance, all managed by Asylon's DroneIQ software.
Every Asylon deployment is backed by a 24/7 Robotic Security Operations Center (RSOC) staffed with live analysts and FAA-certified operators who verify, escalate, and direct response. When an alarm triggers, a drone is dispatched automatically for eyes-on verification. In GXO deployments, RSOC teleoperation ran at under 0.5-second latency and drones cleared 819+ alarms with a 94.8% autonomous landing success rate across all wind conditions.
A single aerial drone patrols large campuses and long fence lines far faster than a guard on foot or in a vehicle. Asylon reports customers running 100–400% more patrols than traditional methods — one Kia Motors deployment covers over 14 miles of fence-line inspection. Across all sites, Asylon's aerial and ground robots have completed more than 250,000 combined automated security missions.
DroneDog is Asylon's quadruped ground robot built on the Boston Dynamics Spot® platform with Asylon's proprietary PupPack payload. Unlike aerial drones, it:
- Climbs stairs, crosses uneven terrain, and navigates tight indoor/outdoor spaces
- Carries high-resolution EO and thermal cameras for 24/7 day/night surveillance
- Runs programmed patrol routes or deploys on-demand for alarm response
- Recharges autonomously in a weatherproof "DogHouse" hub
Asylon reports customers cutting security operating costs by up to 50% using live-monitored robotics. At Bayer Crop Science's Hawaii facility, a Spot-based robot covering roughly 8,000 acres saved an estimated $90,000 per robot annually — it conducted more than 2,500 exterior patrols and walked over 1,500 miles, prompting Bayer to deploy additional robots at other sites.
Outdoor commercial drone flight is FAA-regulated, but Asylon handles compliance as part of its fully managed Robot-as-a-Service model. Guardian is marketed as FAA-compliant and American-engineered, and the RSOC provides FAA-certified operators who manage the regulatory requirements, including oversight for automated operations. Facilities get autonomous aerial coverage without hiring their own licensed pilots or managing FAA paperwork in-house.
🏢 About Actel Robotics
Actel Robotics manages the full lifecycle of robotic deployments — so your team gets the capability without the complexity:
- Assess: Site evaluation, environment analysis, platform recommendation
- Procure: Direct procurement from OEM manufacturers (no middlemen)
- Deploy & Integrate: Onsite installation, configuration, and WMS/EAM integration
- Train & Support: Team training and ongoing technical support
- Optimize: Continuous monitoring and performance optimization over time
Actel Robotics is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas (Houston metro). We serve clients nationally — the drone, Corvus Robotics, Locus Robotics, Boston Dynamics, Ghost Robotics, and Asylon platforms are deployed and supported across the United States. Contact us at sales@actelrobotics.com or (713) 805-8140 to discuss your location.
Three simple next steps:
- Facility Review: We send a checklist of images and information needed to evaluate your site — takes about 30 minutes to complete
- Business Case Builder: We send a questionnaire to build out a customized ROI projection for your specific facility and operation
- Decision Maker Meeting: A direct conversation to address your corporate goals, answer questions upfront, and walk through what deployment would look like