Back in 2018, IT consultancy and mobile app development specialists RIIS showed how, with a little help from Google’s machine learning platform, TensorFlow, a DJI drone could be used to count the number of sheep in a field in real-time.

At the time it was an interesting, albeit niche glimpse into how drones and AI could work together to carry out relatively mundane tasks.

Today, RIIS has partnered with Europe’s largest drone company, Parrot, to develop similar AI programs using the ANAFI platform.

Together the companies will explore how artificial intelligence, computer vision technology, and drone data capture can be combined to solve industry challenges.

Read more: Parrot and Kittyhawk Partner on ANAFI SDK Program

In order to demonstrate the potential of the technology and encourage developers to start creating their innovative apps, Parrot and RIIS have published a technical whitepaper with step-by-step instructions for adding AI and computer vision applications to the ANAFI platform using Parrot’s open-source Ground SDK.

RIIS built a Cattle Counter app, which allows farmers and agriculture professionals to quickly and accurately carry out a headcount of cattle herds, to automate the monitoring and counting process. Cattle Counter is currently available for download on Google Play.

“We are excited to explore the immense capabilities AI and drones will deliver to our clients through our ongoing partnership with RIIS,” said Jerome Bouvard, Parrot Director of Strategic Partnership.

“At Parrot, we are always looking for innovative solutions for our enterprise partner’s every-day pain points.”

According to a Parrot press release, the two new partners are exploring use cases which could include municipal use of drones for assessing parking lots, public parks, and streetlights; crowd monitoring; warehouse inventory counting; automated inspection of cell phone towers and solar panels; property surveillance for real estate professionals and developers, and much more.

“Our recent collaboration with Parrot perfectly illustrates the immense potential of developing apps for Parrot’s ANAFI drone platform,” said RIIS CEO and Founder Godfrey Nolan. “Leveraging the power of AI and machine learning apps with Parrot drones promises to provide previously impossible solutions to costly and time-consuming challenges.

Parrot has big ambitions for its SDK Partner program, which already includes Kittyhawk. The aim is to create a global ecosystem of drone apps to serve the unique and ever-evolving needs of enterprise and professional users.

Parrot is working with partners to create and bring to market new applications, software and hardware that integrates with the ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal platforms.