perswee

Perswee is a fictional term used in speculative fiction to denote a compact, autonomous data-collection drone designed for environmental monitoring and urban sensing. The concept first appears in late-21st-century technothriller and climate fiction narratives as a versatile tool that blends personal assistive functions with environmental data gathering. In these works, perswees are portrayed as small devices, roughly the size of a lunchbox, capable of both aerial and ground-based data collection. They are equipped with modular sensor suites, onboard AI, and secure communication channels.

Design and capabilities include swappable sensor modules such as cameras, lidar or infrared sensors, air-quality monitors, and acoustic sensors, along with low-power microprocessors and edge-computing ability. Perswees typically use SLAM-based navigation, geofencing, and swarm coordination for coordinated tasks. Power is usually provided by rechargeable batteries, with some depictions including energy harvesting features to extend operation time.

Applications in fiction range from ecological monitoring in forests to urban air-quality mapping, search-and-rescue support in disaster zones, and crowd-sourced environmental reporting. They are often depicted as privacy-conscious devices with configurable data governance that gives users control over what data is collected and shared.

Limitations and critique commonly explored in these narratives include cost, limited battery life, weather sensitivity, and the potential for surveillance misuse. Governance challenges surrounding data ownership, consent, and regulation are frequent topics of discussion, highlighting ethical considerations in the deployment of perswees.

Etymology and usage notes suggest the name perswee as a portmanteau of personal and sweep, reflecting its dual role as a personal assistant and environmental sensor.