Public Safety

From humble beginnings, Laredo PD launches DFR program By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Over the past decade or so, the police department in the border city of Laredo, Texas has seen its drone program grow from operating a single low-tech UAV to a full-fledged drone as first responder (DFR) program, which will involve six… Read more: From One Drone to a Citywide DFR Network: Laredo PD’s Journey

Drone team finds new way to use thermal imaging in disaster response By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The search for a victim who was swept away by the massive floodwaters that inundated parts of Central Texas earlier this month has led to the development of an innovative use of drone mapping technology, which could… Read more: New Thermal Drone Technique Emerges from Tragic Texas Flood

Successful deployment highlights uncrewed surface vehicle performance and integration Saildrone, a global leader in maritime autonomy, has completed a significant demonstration as part of NATO Task Force X’s multi-domain exercise in the Baltic Sea. The deployment showcased the reliability and versatility of the Saildrone Voyager uncrewed service vehicle as a naval drone. From June 16 to… Read more: Saildrone Showcases Voyager USV Capabilities in NATO Baltic Sea Exercise

The Diverse Range of Drones Supports Tactical and Strategic Needs on the Battlefield Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense is building a robust drone fleet as it modernizes and expands support for its Armed Forces. From reconnaissance to targeted strikes, Ukraine’s diverse mix of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) highlights the crucial role drones play in both military… Read more: What Kind of Drones is Ukraine Buying?

State officials and experts emphasize the need for stronger counter-drone legislation to combat rising drone incursions in prisons and elsewhere. Georgia’s Department of Corrections is grappling with a significant challenge as drones increasingly smuggle contraband into state prisons. This growing issue came into sharp focus following a recent incident at Smith State Prison, where a… Read more: Georgia Prisons Face Challenges with Drone-Supplied Contraband: Calls for Legislative Action on Counter-UAS Technology

Doodle Labs technology helps drones in combat evade jamming By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The war in Ukraine, which has often been referred to as the world’s first drone war, has led to both sides in the conflict relying on fleets of small unmanned aerial vehicles to surveil enemy positions and drop bombs on… Read more: Anti-Jamming Drones: Enhancing Battlefield Resilience

Partnership enables call streaming to provide first responders with comprehensive information about emergencies before they arrive on scene BRINC, a US provider of drone technology for first responders, has partnered with HigherGround, a leading developer of mission-critical communications software. This collaboration aims to enhance emergency response effectiveness by providing officers with comprehensive information from 911… Read more: Real-Time 911 Call Streaming Enhances Officer Response with BRINC and HigherGround

New Offering Enhances Drone as First Responder Capabilities for Emergency Response Axon, a global leader in public safety technology, and Skydio, a premier U.S. drone manufacturer, have announced a new end-to-end offering aimed at enhancing the use of drones in public safety. This comprehensive solution focuses on the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, enabling… Read more: Axon and Skydio Launch Comprehensive Drone Solution for Public Safety

Enhanced Safety and Efficiency for Emergency Response uAvionix, a prominent provider of command, navigation, and surveillance technologies for drones, announced that the Oswego City Police Department’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations without the need for Visual Observers (VOs).… Read more: FAA Approves BVLOS Operations for Oswego City Police Department’s Drone as First Responder Program

The Energy Drone and Robotics Summit in Houston today hosted attendees, exhibitors and speakers from around the world and most industrial sectors.  At the DRONERESPONDERS co-located event, FAA experts were on hand to discuss the current environment in public safety, and what’s coming for first responder drone programs. Sgt. Robert Dooley of the Florida Highway… Read more: Public Safety UAS: A Conversation with the FAA

BRINC’s New Platform Enhances Emergency Response with Rapid Drone Deployment BRINC, a leader in drone technology for first responders, has announced the launch of the Responder drone and Responder Station, marking a significant advancement in Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations. This new platform is designed to assist first responders in arriving at emergency scenes… Read more: BRINC Unveils Purpose-Built 911 Response Drone

The Axon Dedrone acquisition aims to expand capabilities in drone technology for public safety and national security Axon (Nasdaq: AXON), a leader in global public safety technology, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Dedrone, a pioneer in airspace security. This merger aligns Axon’s mission to protect life with Dedrone’s expertise in managing drone threats… Read more: Axon Set to Acquire Dedrone to Enhance Drone Security Solutions

New BVLOS Certification Expands Possibilities for Remote Drone Operations in Security Applications by DRONELIFE Contributer Ian J. McNab Pennsylvania-based manufacturer Asylon Robotics recently announced new federal approvals for its American-made “drone in a box” system for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operation. The news represents an important step for Asylon’s DroneSentry security system to… Read more: Asylon Robotics Achieves BVLOS Approval for Advanced Drone System

Uniting for Impact: The GoAERO Prize, AIRT, and DRONERESPONDERS Lead the Charge in Aerial Emergency Innovations The GoAERO Prize, a global competition committed to catalyzing the creation of Emergency Response Flyers that rescue people in danger and respond to disaster wherever it is found, today announced a strategic partnership with AIRT, the leading non-profit organization… Read more: AIRT and DRONERESPONDERS Partner with GoAERO Prize to Revolutionize Aerial Emergency and Disaster Response

According to an MSN article, recent developments in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine have highlighted the increasing use of small drones – and the battle between unmanned aerial and uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) in combat operations. In a specific instance near Avdiivka, a strategic location in the Donetsk region under Moscow’s control, Ukraine’s military… Read more: FPV Drones vs. Ground Robots in Ukraine

News and Commentary.  In San Francisco, Prop E will be on the ballot on March 5.  Among other provisions designed to help public safety agencies deal with rising crime rates in the city, Prop E would ease the way for police drone use.  The discussion in San Francisco’s media, however, has highlighted the drone industry’s… Read more: San Francisco’s Prop E Could Ease the Way for Police Drone Use: But Highlights the Need for More Education

DroneSentry-C2 Tactical, a Field-Ready Command-and-Control System for Enhanced Counter-Drone Situational Awareness DroneShield, a leading company in drone technology, has announced the launch of its new product, DroneSentry-C2 Tactical (DroneSentry-C2T). This new offering is a rugged, tablet-based command-and-control system designed to provide real-time counter-drone situational awareness. The DroneSentry-C2T is a field-ready version of DroneShield’s primary Command-and-Control… Read more: DroneShield Unveils DroneSentry-C2 Tactical: A New Era in Handheld Drone Defense Systems

Israeli-based drone manufacturer Airobotics, (a subsidiary of Ondas Holdings) recently announced a $2.6 million order for additional Optimus drone systems from a local government entity in Dubai, UAE for public safety and emergency response operations.  Continue reading below, or listen: DroneLife · Airobotics – Optimus – Drone – Systems – In – Dubai – Automated… Read more: Airobotics Will Add More Optimus Drone Systems to Dubai for Public Safety Response

BRINC Delivers First LEMUR 2 Drones to Emergency Responders Continue reading below, or listen: DroneLife · BRINC – Delivers – First – LEMUR – 2-Drones – To – First – ResponderBRINC‘s LEMUR drones may be the best example of public safety drones as a de-escalation tool, providing SWAT teams with a proven 2-way communications solution… Read more: BRINC Delivers LEMUR 2: Drones for Emergency Response

National Police Chiefs’ Council Drone Portfolio, on the Next Public Safety Drone Review! Tuesday, October 3 at 3:00 PM ET Continue reading below, or listen: DroneLife · Public – Safety – Drone – Review – UKs – National – Police – Chiefs – Council – Drone – PortfolioDon’t miss the October 3 episode of the Public… Read more: Public Safety Drone Review: How Police in the UK Utilize Drone Technology