Drone as First Responder

News, deep dives, and analysis — every Drone as First Responder story, newest first.

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Nov 13

Last updated

Skydio X10 drone hovering above its rooftop docking station with the San Francisco skyline and Salesforce Tower behind it

Police

SFPD's Proposed Drone Rules Stop Short of Sonoma's Court Settlement

San Francisco advanced rules for 98 police drones with a narrow warrant clause and no resident notice. Sonoma's ACLU settlement requires both.

Haye KestelooOct 27

White blueflite Cobalt cargo drone on a wooden launch pad with six people standing behind it and a blue water tower in the background

Drone Delivery

Michigan Medicine Will Test Drone Organ Flights in $1.7M State Round

Michigan's $1.7M round funds 12 drone projects: blueflite organ flights for Michigan Medicine, Battle Creek police DFR, and eight Detroit pilots.

Haye KestelooOct 26

Dark gray Parrot ANAFI UKR drone with a three-lens camera gimbal hovering at night beside a chain-link fence and a riot shield marked POLICE

DFR

Evolver DFR Offers Police a Parrot Drone and Dock With No Subscription

Drone Nerds' Evolver DFR sells police a Parrot ANAFI UKR GOV, a DBOX dock and SkyfireAI software on one purchase order, with no recurring subscription.

Haye KestelooOct 22

Black quadcopter drone with tall landing legs and a camera gimbal flying against a cloudy sky

Belgium

DJI Dock 4 Demoed for Belgian First Responders. US Teams Can't Buy It

Belgium's state drone pilot course turned 10 at PLOT in Genk, where DJI Dock 4 got a live demo two days after launch. US rescuers can't buy it.

Haye KestelooOct 20

Skydio X10 drone sitting inside an open Skydio Dock on a rooftop with a city skyline behind it at sunset

Police

Inquirer Calls Police Drones 'Cheaper.' Lower Merion Asked $375,000

Upper Darby and Bensalem fly Skydio X10s as first responders. The Inquirer says drones got cheaper. Its one price is $375,000 over five years for one drone.

Haye KestelooOct 20

Pilot Institute

FCC Moves to Shut Out Chinese Labs, DroneSense Adds LAANC, DJI Dock 4

Greg Reverdiau: the FCC votes Oct. 29 to cut off Chinese test labs, DroneSense adds LAANC through Aloft, and DJI's Dock 4 swaps batteries in 25 seconds.

Greg ReverdiauOct 16

DJI Matrice 5TD drone hovering above an open white DJI Dock 4 on a grassy hillside, with an O4 Ground Station mast to the left and high-voltage transmission towers behind

LAUNCH

DJI Dock 4 Swaps Batteries in 25 Seconds, but Its Specs Skip the FCC

DJI's Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD bring a 25-second battery swap and 59-minute flights. Its radio specs cover Canada, Europe, China and Japan. Not the US.

Haye KestelooOct 14

Police

Flock Bets on Police Drones as San Francisco Weighs Drone Limits

Flock's CEO says drones will be nearly half its future revenue. San Francisco's Police Commission takes up its police drone rules on October 14.

Haye KestelooOct 13

Drone as First Responder

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