Nightingale Security
Nightingale Security provides autonomous aerial drone security as a Robot-as-a-Service subscription, serving critical infrastructure operators across energy, airports, military, ports, data centers, mining, logistics, and manufacturing with edge-computing-enabled autonomous patrol, intrusion detection, and alarm verification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nightingale Security does
Nightingale Security, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, operates an autonomous aerial security platform centered on its Blackbird Block-5 drone. The system is purpose-built for security rather than adapted from a general-purpose drone: it integrates with existing enterprise security infrastructure (VMS, access control, perimeter sensors, radar) and runs an edge computing architecture that enables real-time autonomous decision-making without cloud dependency. The drone delivers approximately 40 minutes of endurance, a 3-5 mile operational radius, 40 mph wind tolerance, AES-256 encryption, and dual 4K plus thermal cameras, and the company reports more than 440,000 completed autonomous missions across deployments. Its proprietary RAID (Robotic AI Intrusion Detection) computer vision pipeline supports autonomous patrols, target tracking, and alarm verification, with modular add-ons for License Plate Recognition and Counter-UAS integration.
The company monetizes through a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) subscription model that bundles the drone, base station, software, and ongoing support, supplemented by professional services for site planning, integration, training, and commissioning. It sells exclusively via direct enterprise sales targeting security directors and operations teams at critical infrastructure facilities — AI data centers, energy and petrochemical plants, airports, military installations, ports, mining sites, logistics yards, and advanced manufacturing — under custom pricing with no public rates. Mission programming is handled through a Mission Manager web application, and the platform exposes an API for embedding into customer security stacks. The company has raised approximately $24.8M across rounds from 2016 to 2022 from Saxby Capital, Seraphim Space, Bossa Invest, Drone.VC, and Impact Venture Capital, and operates with a team of 11-50 employees drawing on backgrounds at SpaceX, NASA, and Willow Garage.
Nightingale Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nightingale Security
- Legal name
- Nightingale Security
- Website
- https://nightingalesecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Nightingale Security provides autonomous aerial drone security as a Robot-as-a-Service subscription, serving critical infrastructure operators across energy, airports, military, ports, data centers, mining, logistics, and manufacturing with edge-computing-enabled autonomous patrol, intrusion detection, and alarm verification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nightingale Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Aerial Security Systems
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Security Systems Services (56162), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF)
Keywords
Where Nightingale Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nightingale Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Robot as a Service (RaaS): The company operates on a Robot as a Service model providing autonomous drone systems as a subscription service. This includes drones, base stations, software, and ongoing support. Customers pay recurring fees for access to the autonomous security system rather than purchasing hardware outright.
- Professional Services: Deployment services including site planning for base station locations, integration with existing power and security systems, facility mapping, patrol creation, staff training, system testing, and final commissioning. Deployment typically takes about two weeks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Robot as a Service subscription model - custom enterprise pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Nightingale Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nightingale Security provides an autonomous drone-based aerial security platform centered on its purpose-built Blackbird Block-5 drone system. The platform delivers 24/7 autonomous patrol, AI-driven threat detection, real-time verification via 4K and thermal video, and integration with existing security infrastructure (VMS, access control, radar, perimeter sensors) for critical infrastructure operators. The offering is delivered primarily as a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) subscription including drone hardware, base stations, software, and ongoing support.
Product overview
Nightingale Security offers a unified autonomous aerial security platform centered on the Blackbird Block-5 drone system, designed for continuous 24/7 patrol, detection, verification, and response at critical infrastructure sites. The platform operates as a purpose-built security solution rather than a general-purpose drone, integrating directly with existing security infrastructure including VMS, access control systems, radar, and perimeter sensors. Modular add-on capabilities include License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Counter-UAS integration, which can be deployed across any deployment to tailor the system to specific operational requirements. The system is supported by a Mission Manager web application for mission programming and management. The platform provides autonomous threat response, scheduled patrols, AI intrusion detection (RAID), and manual surveillance capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BLACKBIRD: Purpose-built autonomous drone system for security applications, designed for detection, response, and verification capabilities in critical infrastructure environments. The current model is BLACKBIRD BLOCK-5.
Products and services
- Blackbird Block-5 Autonomous Drone System Purpose-built autonomous security drone weighing 14.3 lbs with 3-5 mile operational radius, ~40 minutes endurance, 40 mph persistent wind tolerance (45 mph gusts), AES-256 encryption, and <55 dB acoustic signature at 100 ft AGL. Designed for 24/7 autonomous patrol, threat detection, and verification at critical infrastructure sites.
- Robot as a Service (RaaS) Subscription
Quantifiable outcome
- 440,000+ autonomous missions completed in real-world deployments
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Nightingale Security
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Nightingale Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
AI capability5 records
Feature7 records
Nightingale Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Nightingale Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Easy Aerial: Easy Aerial provides autonomous drone-in-a-box security and surveillance systems for perimeter monitoring, crowd control, and industrial inspection. It is a direct competitor offering similar drone-as-first-responder workflows to Nightingale's Blackbird platform.
- Percepto: Percepto offers autonomous drone-based inspection and monitoring solutions for industrial sites including energy, mining, and critical infrastructure. Like Nightingale, it combines a docking station, autonomous flight, AI analytics, and integration with existing site security stacks.
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading US autonomous drone manufacturer whose enterprise and defense lines target inspection, public safety, and security use cases. It competes with Nightingale for the same autonomous security drone wallet in critical infrastructure and defense.
- Fortem Technologies: Fortem Technologies provides drone detection, airspace awareness, and autonomous drone interdiction solutions for airports, prisons, and critical infrastructure. It overlaps with Nightingale on counter-UAS and security workflows.
- Dedrone: Dedrone specializes in counter-UAS detection, identification, and tracking for defense, airports, and critical infrastructure. It is a direct peer in the rogue-drone threat detection and response niche that Nightingale addresses with its counter-UAS add-on.
- DroneShield: DroneShield provides counter-UAS and drone detection hardware and software for military, government, and critical infrastructure. It is comparable to Nightingale's counter-UAS add-on offering and shares the same enterprise and defense buyer base.
- D-Fend Solutions: D-Fend Solutions develops counter-drone detection and takeover systems, primarily for airports, prisons, and military bases. It targets the same rogue-drone mitigation use case as Nightingale's counter-UAS integration.
Broad incumbents
- Anduril Industries: Anduril is a defense technology prime building autonomous systems including drones, counter-UAS, and AI-powered security. It competes for many of the same defense and critical infrastructure autonomous security contracts as Nightingale, but with a much broader product portfolio.
- DJI: DJI is the dominant global commercial drone manufacturer, with enterprise models used for security and inspection. While not a US-made security-focused system, it represents the lower-cost incumbent against which Nightingale's purpose-built platform must justify a premium.
Others
- Axis Communications: Axis Communications is a leading network camera and video surveillance vendor whose products are commonly deployed alongside Nightingale integrations. It is a complementary/adjacent player in the same critical infrastructure security stack rather than a direct drone competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nightingale Security social profiles
Digital presenceNightingale Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nightingale Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Nightingale Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nightingale Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nightingale Security
What does Nightingale Security do?
Nightingale Security provides an autonomous drone-based aerial security platform centered on its purpose-built Blackbird Block-5 drone system. The platform delivers 24/7 autonomous patrol, AI-driven threat detection, real-time verification via 4K and thermal video, and integration with existing security infrastructure (VMS, access control, radar, perimeter sensors) for critical infrastructure operators. The offering is delivered primarily as a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) subscription including drone hardware, base stations, software, and ongoing support.
Is Nightingale Security a public or private company?
Nightingale Security is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nightingale Security founded?
Nightingale Security was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nightingale Security based?
Nightingale Security is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nightingale Security make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Robot as a Service (RaaS) is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Nightingale Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Easy Aerial, Percepto, Skydio, Fortem Technologies, Dedrone, DroneShield and D-Fend Solutions. Broad incumbents are Anduril Industries and DJI. Axis Communications is listed as an others.
Does Nightingale Security have an API?
Yes. API-driven command and control enables users to trigger missions, verify alarms, dispatch drones, and feed events back into their security stack.
What industry is Nightingale Security in?
Nightingale Security's product category is Autonomous Aerial Security Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAL, UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure, with a secondary code of IMAIAEAF, Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding). Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 3812.