Impossible Aerospace’s US-1 used in ‘homeless outreach’ drone program

The US-1 unmanned aircraft from Impossible Aerospace and the are used in ‘homeless outreach’ drone programs by two departments in . The drones will broadcast safety messages in different languages while protecting police officers. The Mavic 2 Enterprise is used by the Chula Vista police department. Whereas the US-1 is used by the San Pablo police department.

The police in San Pablo, a city north of Oakland, said that the drones are parts of a program that is now being accelerated by the department as social distancing guidelines limit police operations.

“This technology has exponentially grown in the past couple of years and it will exponentially grow over the next five to 10 years, especially in the environment we are in today — where having that physical police officer response isn’t always the best solution,” said police captain Brian Bubar according to the Financial Times.

Drones have been widely used in to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. And even in a number of European , we have seen local law-enforcement starting to deploy drones in larger numbers to enforce social distancing rules. However, in the , it appears that privacy concerns among the general public have caused officials to be more hesitant with the use of drones to fight the virus.

“We are trying to save lives, not be big brother,” the department tweeted in response. “If this plan saves one life, then it’s worth it.”

In San Pablo, two US-1 drones, made by , were used in a homeless outreach program to communicate to homeless communities and offering them services and direction for help. Impossible Aerospace focusses on commercial and first responder customers with their US-1 drone that offers a flight time of around 90 minutes.

With the help of the drones from Impossible Aerospace, the San Pablo police department was able to broadcast information to the homeless community in English and Spanish, while keeping their officers at a safe distance. Both departments stressed that the drones for merely used to convey information, and not to patrol populations or conduct unrestricted surveillance.

“The last thing we’d want is for someone to view this as an enforcement tool,” Mr Bubar said.

While some people may not like the idea of flying through the skies, Impossible Aerospace’s chief executive, Spencer Gore counters with saying:

“Imagine you wake up to the horrifying discovery that your child has gone missing,” said Impossible’s chief executive, Spencer Gore. “The police say, ‘We’ll send an officer around.’ Wouldn’t you way rather have an entire armada of drones in the sky blanketing the city with a search party?”

Chula Vista police department uses the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise

In Chula Vista near San Diego, police used drones in a three-hour-long homeless outreach operation over difficult terrain and dense foliage. During the mission, 26 homeless camps across eight square miles were covered. Police chief Roxana Kennedy said that it would have taken two days to complete that work without drones.

YouTube video

The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise is used by the Chula Vista police department as part of DJI’s Disaster Relief Program.

 

 

Impossible Aerospace'S Us-1 Used In ‘Homeless Outreach’ Drone Program 1

Impossible Aerospace'S Us-1 Used In ‘Homeless Outreach’ Drone Program 2

What do you think about police departments using drones to help in the fight against the coronavirus? Does it worry you that drones might become a staple in every police officer’s toolbox? Or do you see the drones as a great tool to keep more people safe? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Impossible Aerospace'S Us-1 Used In ‘Homeless Outreach’ Drone Program 3

Main photo: Patrick McGee


Discover more from DroneXL.co

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Proposed legislation threatens your ability to use drones for fun, work, and safety. The Drone Advocacy Alliance is fighting to ensure your voice is heard in these critical policy discussions.Join us and tell your elected officials to protect your right to fly.

Drone Advocacy Alliance
TAKE ACTION NOW
Follow us on Google News!

Get your Part 107 Certificate

Pass the Part 107 test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass FAA tests and achieve your dreams.

pilot institute dronexl

Copyright © DroneXL.co 2025. All rights reserved. The content, images, and intellectual property on this website are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of any material without prior written permission from DroneXL.co is strictly prohibited. For permissions and inquiries, please contact us first. DroneXL.co is a proud partner of the Drone Advocacy Alliance. Be sure to check out DroneXL's sister site, EVXL.co, for all the latest news on electric vehicles.

FTC: DroneXL.co is an Amazon Associate and uses affiliate links that can generate income from qualifying purchases. We do not sell, share, rent out, or spam your email.

Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

Articles: 4976

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.