Shauli Zacks
Published on: September 9, 2025
SafetyDetectives recently spoke with Jack Wu, Co-Founder of Nightingale Security, a company redefining how organizations approach protection through autonomous aerial technology. With a background rooted in robotics and a drive to solve real-world challenges, Jack shared how Nightingale is tackling manpower shortages, response times, and compliance hurdles with fully autonomous security drones. In this interview, he explains the inspiration behind the company, the hurdles of building true autonomy, and his vision for a future where drones become as common as security cameras.
Can you start by telling us a bit about your background and what led you to co-found Nightingale Security?
I’ve always been drawn to robotics and how technology can solve real-world problems. Before Nightingale, I saw security teams facing the same issues—limited staff and growing threats. I co-founded the company because I believed autonomous systems could extend human capability and change how we approach security.
For those who may not be familiar, what does Nightingale Security do, and what makes your approach to aerial security unique?
We build fully autonomous security drones. What sets us apart is that we don’t just make the aircraft—we deliver the entire system: drones, basestations, and the software to run them. That means our customers can launch and manage autonomous patrols with just a few clicks.
Security drones are still a relatively new concept for many organizations. What kind of problems are you solving for your clients?
The biggest challenges we solve are manpower shortages, situational awareness, and response times. Our drones act as a force multiplier—getting into the air in under a minute and giving security teams eyes on the problem instantly.
Building autonomous technology often comes with big challenges. What were some of the key hurdles you faced in bringing your platform to market?
Autonomy is hard. Early on, precision landing and reliable autonomous charging were major challenges. We also had to build robust software that could manage fleets, not just single drones. It took years of testing, but those challenges are now what make the platform so reliable.
Regulations around drones can vary quite a bit. How do you ensure that your technology remains compliant while still being effective?
We stay very close to regulators like the FAA and design compliance into the system—things like geofencing, logging, and support for BVLOS waivers. That way, our clients can operate effectively while staying within the rules.
Looking ahead, where do you see the future of drone-based security, and how is Nightingale preparing to meet that future?
I think drones will become as standard as security cameras. We’re preparing for that future by scaling our tech for larger fleets, adding more AI-driven analytics, and making sure our drones integrate seamlessly with existing security systems.
