AEGIS: Aerial Escort Guardian Intelligence System

With increased concerns around personal safety and emergency preparedness in urban environments, this project proposes a novel system of low-altitude, autonomous escort drones. These drones can accompany individuals during vulnerable situations — such as walking alone in unsafe areas, being targeted by specific individuals or groups, or navigating risky environments due to age, disability, or medical conditions. They can function as a deterrent to crime while also providing real-time alerts to emergency services. Unlike 911 calls or surveillance cameras, escort drones offer a proactive, on-site presence that can respond even when a person is unable to speak, make a call, or wait for help. The autonomous drone system integrates AI-driven decision-making, real-time vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, and autonomous rerouting to enhance public safety and emergency coordination.
While calling 911 remains the primary emergency protocol, it assumes that the individual has access to a phone and can communicate the situation. In reality, this isn’t always possible — especially in low-patrol zones, college campuses, hiking trails, or during large-scale infrastructure failures. Escort drones provide a critical advantage: they are physically present, monitoring in real time, and can escalate emergencies autonomously. If someone falls while hiking, suffers a medical event, or is being followed, the drone can alert authorities with exact coordinates, visual context, and even activate lights or sirens as a deterrent. These are just a few of the many scenarios where this system fills the safety gap and provides an aviation-enabled solution that goes beyond reactive emergency response.