California
Drones Take on Mosquitoes in California’s Coachella Valley
The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has begun using drones to locate mosquito breeding sites and stop outbreaks before
California
News, deep dives, and analysis — every California story, newest first.
241
Articles
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Aug 30
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DJI
Police Drone Programs Hit 6,000 Nationwide As Legal Challenges Mount
I’ve been tracking police drone expansion all year, and the Wall Street Journal just confirmed what we’ve been reporting: this technology is spreading faster than anyone anticipated. But buried in their coverage is a detail most outlets are missing. The same aggressive enforcement model that generated nearly $1 million in California fines is already facing…
Drone as First Responder
Cal Fire’s Drone Team Rises As A New Force In Emergency Response
Cal Fire’s San Benito Monterey Unit did not plan to become a state leader in drone operations, but a simple act of generosity changed everything, as a local photographer donated two drones back in 2021, and those small aircraft pushed the agency toward a future no one expected. Battalion Chief Josh Silveira still laughs about…
Antigravity A1
Antigravity A1 Review: Why This 360 Drone Broke My Brain as a Pro Cinematographer
My review: The Antigravity A1 is basically a flying 360-degree camera. It's not just a drone with a 360 camera strapped to it. It's a completely...
VTOL
Pyka Fires Up Hybrid Power on New DropShip Drone
Pyka has hit a key milestone in the development of its new heavy cargo drone. The California company released video showing its first DropShip airframe running its hybrid propulsion system for the first time. The test took place earlier this month and marked the moment the full power system came together on the aircraft. It…
Skydio
FBI Seeks AI-Powered Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition As Police Departments Rapidly Expand Warrantless Aerial Monitoring
The FBI is actively seeking to equip surveillance drones with artificial intelligence capabilities including facial recognition, license plate readers, and weapon detection systems, according to federal procurement documents published by The Intercept Thursday. The move comes as approximately 1,500 US law enforcement agencies already operate drone programs with minimal oversight. FBI Issues Reques
Skydio
Portland, Maine City Council Rejects Police Drone Program Despite Search-And-Rescue Benefits
Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S. cities rapidly deploy aerial surveillance with minimal public debate. The Portland Police Department sought to…
Skydio
Concord PD Expands Drone-as-First-Responder Program with Skydio X10
The Concord Police Department in California is taking a major step toward the future of public safety and Kron4 News investigate about it. Officials have announced an expansion of their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, which will use advanced drones to reach emergency scenes faster and provide real-time aerial support to officers on the…
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