First Responders

Police, fire, and search-and-rescue teams putting drones to work when minutes matter.

1,586

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117

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Reporters on beat

Nov 9

Last updated

Flock Safety Alpha police drone in flight against a pink dusk sky, its multi-lens gimbal camera hanging below the body

Industry

Flock Drone Chief Sidhu Quits for a16z, Alpha Still in Early Access

Rahul Sidhu leaves Flock for a16z two years after selling it Aerodome for over $300 million, days after 270 staff took buyouts and with Alpha in early access.

Haye KestelooNov 5

Wildfire

Pano AI Fire Cameras Can Now Alert Seneca and BRINC Drones to Smoke

Pano AI's Drone Partner Program sends wildfire detections and coordinates to Seneca, Rain, BRINC and Censys drones. Its launch graphic adds Skydio.

Haye KestelooNov 4

BRINC Responder drone hovering above its open docking station outside a building at dusk, with police cars parked in the background

Drone as First Responder

St. Louis Clears Police Drones 4-1. Camera Pledge Lives in an FAQ

St. Louis police can fly BRINC drones after a 4-1 vote over the mayor's no. The horizon-camera pledge is in SLMPD's FAQ, not the approved order.

Haye KestelooNov 4

Rain-soaked gray DJI Matrice 5TD drone with folded propellers sitting on the landing pad of DJI Dock 4, lit red by the dock's lights at dusk

Search & Rescue

DJI Docks Put Tatra Rescuers Over Poland's Highest Peak in 6 Minutes

Poland's TOPR tested three DJI Dock 3s and a Dock 4 in the Tatras. A docked drone reaches Rysy in six minutes. US rescue teams can't buy Dock 4.

Haye KestelooNov 4

A white DJI Mini 3 Pro drone hovering against a clear blue sky above wooded green hills

Counter-Drone

Houston Weighs Counter-Drone Bid as Texas Pot Shrinks to $10.5M

Houston votes Wednesday on a FEMA counter-drone grant bid. Its filing names detection and mitigation gear, and Texas's share fell to $10.5M.

Haye KestelooNov 3

A Washington National Guard warrant officer in camouflage holds a small gray quadcopter while briefing two police officers and two civilians in a classroom with drone equipment laid out on tables.

Counter-Drone

FEMA Counter-Drone Grants: Local Police Deadlines Land Before Nov 16

FEMA's $250M counter-drone round closes November 16, but Kansas police must file by November 4 and Indiana and Mississippi close November 6.

Haye KestelooNov 2

Rendering of two Starlink satellites above the night side of Earth, each projecting cones of light onto rings of coverage over city lights

FCC Filing

FCC 800 MHz Drone Order Adds a SpaceX Footnote the Draft Lacked

FCC's adopted 800 MHz drone order adds a footnote the draft lacked: SpaceX's bid for the band next door, with drones and Starlink phones told to coexist.

Haye KestelooNov 1

DJI Matrice 5TD drone seen from below in flight beside a steel transmission tower against a blue sky

EXPLAINER

DJI's 1280 Thermal Drones Skip the US. Economists Saw This Coming

DJI's Matrice 5TD and a November 5 folding thermal drone can't be sold in the US. Research says the ban removes US drone makers' reason to improve.

Haye KestelooOct 30

First Responders

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