First Responders

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

1,586

Articles

117

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Nov 9

Last updated

Pilot Institute

Zipline Claims 68% Less Noise, Alibaba Wins Ruling, MI Organ Flights

Zipline says its drones got quieter, Alibaba wins a ruling on a Pentagon lobbying law that also reaches DJI's lobbyists, and Michigan funds organ flights.

Greg ReverdiauOct 30

Skydio X10 drone hovering in the dark with its navigation lights on, the thermal and color camera gimbal facing forward

DFR

Utica Names Axon and Skydio for Drone Trial Flock Pitched in June

Utica, N.Y. police and fire begin a 90-day Drone as First Responder trial with Axon and Skydio. In June the city announced a free six-month Flock pilot.

Haye KestelooOct 28

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

Aerial view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, its red seating bowl empty around a green football field, with the white arched peristyle, Olympic rings and torch cauldron in the foreground.

Counter-Drone

FEMA's Olympic Counter-Drone Money Gives Host California 46% Less

The White House Olympics task force hosts a counter-drone forum Nov. 9, a week before states apply for FEMA's next $250M. California gets $18.7M.

Haye KestelooOct 26

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

White DJI Matrice 4TD drone with twin spotlights and a speaker mounted on top, hovering in front of a sunlit forest

Search & Rescue

White County's New Rescue Drone Is a DJI Matrice 4TD It Didn't Name

White County, Georgia, bought a rain-capable DJI Matrice 4TD with SPLOST money. Neither Georgia ban bill became law, and federal rules allow it.

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

Senator Rick Scott smiling in his official Senate portrait, with the U.S. flag on the left and the Florida state flag on the right

FCC Ban

Rick Scott Backs DJI Ban. Florida Idled an Estimated $200M Fleet

Sen. Rick Scott wants DJI and Autel kept on the FCC Covered List. Florida's own ban idled an estimated $200 million in agency drones.

Haye KestelooOct 21

First Responders

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.