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<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>11 September 2024</em></span></p>
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<p><a href="https://draganfly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Draganfly Inc.</strong></span></a>, an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer is proud to announce the launch of its newest product, the <a href="https://draganfly.com/draganfly-apex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>APEX Drone</strong></span></a>, designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of military and law enforcement surveillance operations.</p>
<p>The APEX UAV is a direct response to the increasing global demand for a compact, transportable version of the highly respected Commander 3XL. Incorporating feedback from military and law enforcement agencies, the APEX drone is a versatile and powerful solution that offers unmatched portability and modularity without sacrificing performance. Designed and Manufactured in North America, the APEX drone has been built to the high standards of government and military applications, making it an ideal choice for defence and law enforcement missions.</p>
<p>Engineered with up to 45 minutes of flight time and a payload capacity of 5 pounds, the APEX is equipped to handle a variety of mission-critical applications. Its quick-release, exchangeable payload system allows operators to adapt swiftly to changing operational needs. Optional upgrades to onboard computing and communications make the APEX platform a fit for a variety of current and future UAV operations. Available Nvidia onboard computing delivers cutting-edge AI performance to allow users to execute complex AI algorithms and real-time data processing directly on the drone. Additionally, a variety of communication link options are available that include interference-resistant COFDM and multi-channel capabilities, ensuring continuous control and reliable communication in RF-challenged environments.</p>
<p>The APEX drone will debut globally at the Land Forces Conference in Melbourne, Australia, from September 11-13, 2024, where it will be introduced to the Asia-Pacific defence industry. This premier event attracts military leaders, law enforcement, and industry experts, offering a prime platform for showcasing the APEX's capabilities and fostering connections among global defence leaders.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The APEX represents a significant advancement in our drone technology, delivering a compact yet powerful solution that directly addresses the needs of our military and law enforcement partners,&rdquo; said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. &ldquo;We are excited to showcase the APEX at the Land Forces Conference and are confident that it will set new standards for performance and reliability in the field.&rdquo;</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ZUlaSzOA-c?si=4Au4xS49EfVI8kuD" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>About Draganfly</strong></span></h5>
<p>Draganfly Inc. is a leading developer of cutting-edge drone solutions, software, and AI systems that revolutionize how organizations operate and serve their stakeholders. With over 25 years of industry experience, Draganfly is recognized as a technology leader, providing innovative solutions for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying markets. Draganfly&rsquo;s mission is to deliver efficient, first-class services that save time, money, and lives.</p>
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Draganfly Unveils New APEX Drone

Trending News

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>02 May 2024</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By Amelia Frasure, UAS Program Manager at Greenville PD</strong></span></p>
<p>The <span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.greenvillenc.gov/government/police" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Greenville Police Department </strong></a></span>in Greenville, North Carolina is a medium sized agency with approximately 200 sworn police officers. The population of the city is close to 90,000&mdash; not including the large student population of East Carolina University, Go Pirates!</p>
<p>The Greenville Police Department began using small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in 2018 when the department&rsquo;s Drone Unit was created by Officer Jonathan Young. It started out with five part-time pilots and two DJI Matrice 210 drones. Now in 2024, we have nine part-time pilots, four drones, and a full-time UAS program manager. All GPD drone pilots are sworn law-enforcement officers with various full-time positions within the agency. Currently, our agency is only operating DJI aircraft with the most commonly used drones being the DJI Matrice 30T and DJI Avata.</p>
<p>To become a drone pilot at Greenville PD, officers must pass a two week course taught by the UAS Program Manager, where they learn Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems and are prepped to take the FAA Remote Pilot Exam. They also learn how to safely operate all agency drones and are tested with practical scenarios. All agency pilots must pass the FAA Exam and earn their Remote Pilot Certification.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Our agency also operates with Certificates of Authorization from the FAA, also known as COA&rsquo;s, including a First Responder Tactical Beyond Visual Line of Sight (TBVLOS) 91.113 Waiver.&nbsp; This waiver allows First Responder drone pilots to operate their drone beyond visual line of sight in extreme emergencies to safeguard human life.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ZGoE7vYLD195uYpelhzN9r4VLXJ0d2S3Oz2ilAXL.png" alt="" width="677" height="265" /></p>
<p>As you can see in the picture above from the FAA, there are some restrictions to this waiver such as:&nbsp; the drone must remain within 1500 feet of the pilot, PIC must not operate any higher than 50 feet above, or greater than 400 feet laterally, of the nearest obstacle while operating TBVLOS, and the pilot must return to line of sight operations as soon as practical or at the termination of the emergency situation. The full list of TBVLOS regulations can be found on the FAA website.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>You May Be Asking &ldquo;Why Do Police Need Drones?&rdquo;&nbsp;</strong></span></h5>
<p>Drones have a variety of purposes in law enforcement. Missing person search, fugitive apprehension, crash/crime scene documentation, and critical incident over-watch, to name a few. According to Axon, approximately 1,400 police agencies in the United States are using drones, with that number expecting to grow drastically in the coming years. As said by Deputy Chief Tony Zucaro of the Virginia Beach Police Department, &ldquo;The use of drones is limited only by one&rsquo;s creativity.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The drone we rely on most here at Greenville PD is the DJI Matrice 30 Thermal, also known as the M30T, with a H20N camera and CZI LP12 speaker/spotlight attached. The speaker is helpful when a subject is located by drone and officers need to give instructions or commands to the subject. Having a spotlight on our drone has become crucial during night flights and I highly recommend investing in one. It allows us to search with both the zoom and thermal cameras at night, utilizing the spotlight to clarify what we are seeing on the thermal camera.</p>
<p>Our next most commonly used drone is the DJI Avata, which is a First-Person View (FPV) drone. We use this drone for indoor flying with Foxfury and Firehouse lights attached to make flying in the dark more successful. Being able to fly this drone inside a building or residence to search for threats before officers enter has been a game changer and a huge step in the right direction for officer safety. Most common use cases are warrant services, SWAT/ERT operations, barricaded subjects, and breaking/entering of a building. As you can imagine, there are many more cases in which it would be useful. We try to get creative with it!&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Avata is also a great tool to use to search areas that are hard for officers to safely get to, such as crawl spaces and attics. In a recent warrant service in Greenville, the Avata was used to clear a house and search an attic space in the house. The Avata flew into the dark attic space and cleared it with no issues.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We also have an ICOR MiniCaliber robot that is used in tandem with the Avata. The robot is able to go up and down stairs and open doors. Essentially, the robot opens any closed doors so the Avata can properly clear a structure. Robotic teaming at its finest!</p>
<p>For those that cannot use DJI drones in their state but are looking for an indoor drone, I would recommend looking into the Arrowhead by Uniform Sierra Aerospace.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/7sdFlF3NnRwQoD71dqpj0kNVnk0wsYRWjbQ297sg.png" alt="" width="674" height="350" /></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Police Drone Success Stories</strong></span></h5>
<p>Drones have become a key element to missing person searches because they can be used to cover a lot of area very quickly. Just recently, Alamance County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office in North Carolina used a drone to locate a missing adult female that had fallen while on a walk almost 24 hours prior. The temperatures were near freezing, which only made public safety officials more concerned about her well-being. While officials were searching on the ground for this female, the drone was launched and located her within 20 minutes of flight. This was a big success for public safety drone use!</p>
<p>In February 2022, our Drone Unit searched over 500 acres in less than two hours to search for a missing juvenile in a neighboring town. Thankfully, the juvenile was located in a nearby building by someone on the ground search team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In May of 2023, two of our drone pilots responded to a plane crash near Pitt-Greenville airport and found the missing plane and two occupants within three minutes of take-off. Since then, we&rsquo;ve done scenario based search and rescue training with Greenville Fire/Rescue to ensure we are properly utilizing all resources in similar incidents.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/8Cbp24VuE5Jod3EMG6cQpztyDf8r17ioA7uiCNM8.png" alt="" width="683" height="257" /></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Drones Help the Good Guys Catch Bad Guys</strong></span></h5>
<p>In a recent situation in Greenville, an officer initiated a traffic stop at night and the subject ditched their vehicle and ran into a nearby neighborhood. What we in law enforcement call a &ldquo;jump and run&rdquo;. The officer chased the subject on foot until they lost sight of them in a dark area behind some houses. A perimeter was set by ground units and the drone was deployed to search for the wanted subject. Once the drone search began, the subject was located within six minutes using the thermal camera. Next, the officer piloting the drone utilized the spotlight to confirm the heat signature. Sure enough, it was the suspect hiding in a boat in someone&rsquo;s backyard. The officer flying the drone led officers on the ground to the suspect&rsquo;s location where he was taken into custody without incident.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/QG9Hf4oFsU8nbdFAMEQTRPekDHTkH0x7sue2sCrS.png" alt="" width="679" height="377" /></p>
<p>Another successful apprehension with the assistance of a drone occurred in fall of 2023. Officers were responding to a large gathering in the parking lot of an apartment complex and the drone was in the air while officers arrived on scene. Once officers approached the large group, over 50 people scattered, all running in different directions. The drone followed one group fleeing from officers on foot and the drone team provided location information to ground units. Officers stopped four subjects while one kept running. The last subject stopped near some brush and was trying to tuck themselves under it. The drone pilot kept a visual on this subject with the drone spotlight for approximately four minutes until additional officers were able to make contact with the subject. Once the person was in custody, a gun was located in the brush area where the subject was attempting to hide.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Ql4ycbSGzkhH4DWuJYWzFKtrOSaSfF2YzAZWELWv.png" alt="" width="699" height="234" /></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Technology Saves Lives</strong></span></h5>
<p>In summary, our agency wants the public to support our use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones). They are yet another tool law enforcement has found to be helpful in enhancing the safety of the public. We often display our various drones at community events, providing demos of the equipment, and welcoming any questions citizens may have. We continuously find that once people understand how we use them, they are very supportive.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Police officers will continue to do the job, with or without this technology, but if we can use it as a tool to keep our community safer, why not? Drone technology allows law enforcement to catch suspects faster, find missing people sooner, and send equipment into dangerous situations instead of officers. We&rsquo;d much rather have a drone get broken instead of an officer get injured or killed. Drones can be replaced, lives can&rsquo;t.</p>
<p>The use of unmanned technology in law enforcement is only going to grow and I suspect that 10 years from now this technology will be heavily integrated in day to day police operations.&nbsp; Soon, agencies that don&rsquo;t utilize drones will be considered old school or not up to date in police strategies. In the end, GPD is one of the many law enforcement agencies in the United States that are utilizing drones for good.&nbsp;</p>

Why Do Police Need Drones?

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>28 December 2023</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #34495e;">Although this news has kind of an "Is there a there there" vibe, a California State Appeals Court has ruled that some police videos must be released to journalists and the public at large. The 3-0 ruling overturns a judge's decision in San Diego County that all police footage from 911 calls in Chula Vista does not have to be shared or otherwise released.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #34495e;">Of course, California police departments <em>can</em> keep drone footage under wraps if the surveillance video is part of a criminal investigation or violates someone's right to privacy.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #34495e;">&ldquo;This is an important case,"&nbsp;said David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition in San Rafael. "The public has an interest in how a city is using drones, whether it&rsquo;s complying with its own rules and properly respecting privacy.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #34495e;">The Coalition also argued that keeping police drone videos top secret would "blunt public understanding of a technology that is being used to replace basic police activity."</span></p>
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<div class="r1udwkp5 d1uy5mhj ff-fontJ fw-fontJ fs-fontJ lh18 fs18 mb32" data-block-type="text" data-dropcap="false"><span style="color: #34495e;">Law-enforcement agencies in the state are apparently okay with the ruling. "It's very thorough and well-written,&rdquo; said Richard Pinckard of the Peace Officers Research Association of California. "It should not disrupt police practices."</span></div>
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<div class="r1udwkp5 d1uy5mhj ff-fontJ fw-fontJ fs-fontJ lh18 fs18 mb32" data-block-type="text" data-dropcap="false"><span style="color: #34495e;">In addition to Chula Vista, California police departments in Alameda and Contra Costa and Marin counties, as well as cities such as San Jose, Richmond, Fremont, and Pittsburg have been authorized to use drones for surveillance.</span></div>
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<div class="r1udwkp5 d1uy5mhj ff-fontJ fw-fontJ fs-fontJ lh18 fs18 mb32" data-block-type="text" data-dropcap="false"><span style="color: #34495e;">While journalists may cheer to be provided access to 911 video content regarding lost pets, roving animal predators, fires, floods, and the like, it seems like the public isn't necessarily in store for some thrilling police scenes. As drones are used more and more for data gathering, public privacy issues should be addressed, of course, and as some body-cam video can already be accessed by journalists and other watchdog agencies, this ruling seems in line with keeping police actions as transparent as possible.</span></div>
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Public can "hack" Police Videos in California

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>26 September 2023</em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.skydio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Skydio</strong></span></a>'<span style="color: #000000;">s new X10 drone is set to &ldquo;get drones everywhere they can be useful in public safety,&rdquo; according the company's cofounder and CEO</span> <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Adam Bry.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">This could be critical for the approximately 1,500 U.S. police forces who deploy drones, because it's estimated that only a dozen of those departments routinely launch the drones to respond to 911 emergencies.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">The portable Skydio X10 can zip along at up to 45 miles per hour, and its infrared sensors can track people as it flies autonomously at night&mdash;with the capability to follow a vehicle from three miles away. In addition, a 65X zoom camera can zero in on a license plate from 800 feet away. The X10 can also carry a spotlight and a speaker.</span></p>
<p class="paywall"><span style="color: #000000;">&ldquo;Largely based on that zoom camera, I think mitigating or eliminating high-speed chases will be one of the major applications we'll see with customers,&rdquo; said Bry.</span></p>
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<div class="journey-unit"><span style="color: #000000;">At a recent Skydio event, New York Police Department chief of patrols</span> <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>John Chell</strong></span> <span style="color: #000000;">hopes drones can diminish the need for helicopter launches. </span></div>
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<div class="journey-unit"><span style="color: #000000;">However, the NYPD&rsquo;s increasing use of drones is making civil liberties groups such as the ACLU and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project nervous. The ACLU, for example, wants to ban drones being used by police at protests&mdash;especially given a 2021 report by Amnesty International that old-school use of surveillance cameras in NYC tend to target and put at risk the civil liberties of people of color. In fact, just last month, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa accused the NYPD of deploying drones to intimate the audience at a recent anti-immigration protest.</span></div>
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<p class="paywall"><span style="color: #000000;">[Note: When questioned by <em>WIRED</em> magazine, the NYPD stated one drone was used to track pedestrian and vehicle traffic, as well as other potential public-safety issues.]</span></p>
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<p class="paywall"><span style="color: #000000;">Also announced at the X10 debut, was Skydio's partnership with Axon to integrate video from Skydio drones into the software Axon markets to police departments for incident response and evidence management.</span></p>
<h5 class="paywall"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p class="paywall"><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GRdM-BxlBQg?si=hhNaDIBFDGY-5jTp" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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Skydio X10 Helps Law Officers Track Suspects in the Dark

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>07 September 2023</em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.scd.co.il/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>SCD</strong></span></a>&mdash;a global leader in the development and manufacture of a wide range of cooled and uncooled infrared detectors and high-power laser diodes&mdash;will highlight latest innovative core infrared solutions for a wide range of applications, at DSEI 2023, September 12-15 (Hall 6, Stand 230).</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Revolutionary 24/7 Situational Awareness with SWIFT-EI</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/HhBmyDiDrPHRvatdfWLis9kTrwZBYPiUpkrvGWKw.jpg" alt="" width="318" height="288" /></strong></span></p>
<p>Introducing the SWIFT-EI, a groundbreaking SWIR detector that seamlessly integrates event-based imaging capabilities, revolutionizing defense and industrial sectors alike. Equipped with advanced FPA level detection capabilities, tactical forces can now detect multiple laser sources, laser-spots, and even identify Hostile Fire Indication (HFI). Its state-of-the-art ROIC imager technology offers two parallel video channels in one sensor - a standard imaging SWIR video channel, and a very high frame event imaging channel.</p>
<p>The SWIFT-EI offers SWIR imaging that supports day and low-light scenarios, enabling 24/7 situational awareness, better atmospheric penetration, and a low-cost SWIR image for tactical applications. Furthermore, its event-based imaging channel provides advanced capabilities, such as laser event spot detections, multi-laser spot LST capabilities, and SWIR event-based imaging, broadening the scope of target detection and classification.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Persistent Surveillance with the Crane Solution</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/273RlGsRz8e2MRx9JR3SbNZ8xC5lpbt57LE8CRj3.png" alt="" width="322" height="331" /></strong></span></p>
<p>The Crane is the world&rsquo;s first 5-micron, 5 mega-pixel IR detector. This breakthrough product is a game changer in EO/IR applications, offering excellent performance in a small, lightweight, and compact product. The Crane enables unmatched persistent surveillance from a cost-effective tactical platform such as UAVs, drones, and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. While overcoming the need for multiple platforms to be deployed, each with its own payload, to cover large areas. Instead, very high resolution can be achieved with just one highly-reliable Crane detector, reducing costs and operational complexity.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Empowering Tactical EO/IR with Sparrow Solutions</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rTVMKCWVapwsltqPxv17o8YX90EJbjUazCSKZOiq.png" alt="" width="320" height="308" /></strong></span></p>
<p>The demand for Low SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) solutions in tactical EO/IR applications is on the rise. Addressing this demand, SCD presents the Sparrow families of solutions. Designed to cater to the evolving needs of hand-held, drone-based, and AFV applications, the Sparrow MWIR video engine family has already been adopted in major programs worldwide. These solutions are redefining tactical systems with their compact, lightweight design, and enhanced functionality.</p>
<p>"In today's dynamic battlefield landscape, characterized by precision, versatility, and real-time situational awareness, SCD's latest innovations are a testament to the company's commitment to technological excellence", says <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Shai Fishbein</strong></span>, recently appointed VP of Business Development &amp; Marketing of SCD. "The SWIFT-EI, equipped with its revolutionary event-based imaging capabilities, empowers tactical forces with unmatched functionality, as laser source detection, Hostile Fire Indication (HFI), and more, ensuring augmented combat effectiveness. The Crane solution's extraordinary 5-micron, 5-megapixel IR detector expands opportunities to unprecedented persistent surveillance possibilities, enabling cost-effective coverage of expansive areas from a singular platform. Meanwhile, the Sparrow and SWIFT families of solutions cater to the escalating demand for Low SWaP solutions, offering advanced, lightweight, and compact IR imagers for diverse wide distribution tactical applications. These innovations not only fulfill the demands of the modern battlefield but also redefine the potential of infrared technology in defense and beyond."</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>About Semi Conductor Devices (SCD)</strong></span></h5>
<p>Semi Conductor Devices (SCD) develops and manufactures a full spectrum of cooled and uncooled infrared detectors and laser diodes. The company's advanced concepts and cutting-edge technologies have positioned it as one of the world's leading sources of IR detectors. The close relationship between SCD and well-established systems houses around the world ensures that SCD's detectors are produced in accordance with the latest requirements. SCD offers a complete range of off-the-shelf and custom-designed detectors and laser diodes in various configurations. These are typically applied in IR seekers, thermal imagers, smart munitions, night vision systems, machine vision systems, medical applications, laser rangefinders and laser designators. SCD's detectors are designed for the entire IR spectrum &ndash; NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR.</p>

SCD IR solutions redefining Tactical Defense

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>14 August 2023</em></span></p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">It was not a lucky day for accused package thief Lavern Vereen, 31, of DeKalb County, Georgia. The bad luck began when he cased a neighborhood in Fayette County.</p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">Then, after attempting to steal a box from a porch, Vereen dashed away, but caused a minor traffic accident in the process. Not exactly the best way to keep a low profile.</p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">So, Vereen went to ground&mdash;<em>under</em>ground&mdash;by hiding in a storm drain to avoid capture. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.</p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">Unfortunately, the Fayette County, Georgia police were able to track Vereen's desperate flight for freedom by using a drone equipped with a thermal-imaging camera.</p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">Things got worse.</p>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10">Police dowsed the drain with pepper spray, but Vereen stayed put.</p>
<p class="default__StyledText-tl066j-0 ktNuus body-paragraph">Eventually, a flesh-and-blood "drone" was deployed&mdash;a police dog named Axe was sent into the drain on a tether. When that didn't work, police released Axe from his leash.</p>
<p class="default__StyledText-tl066j-0 ktNuus body-paragraph">That did the trick.</p>
<p class="default__StyledText-tl066j-0 ktNuus body-paragraph">Vereen surrendered and was pulled out of the drain&mdash;with Axe still on the hunt and snapping at his heels.</p>
<p class="default__StyledText-tl066j-0 ktNuus body-paragraph">Vereen, who was already facing multiple charges&mdash;including theft and obstructing an officer&mdash;was booked into the Fayette County Jail, after medics treated him for dog bites and exposure to pepper spray.</p>
<p class="default__StyledText-tl066j-0 ktNuus body-paragraph">Just a cautionary tale about how drones and dogs can turn a porch pirate's day into a quite an unlucky mess.</p>
<h5 class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Watch</strong></span></h5>
<p class="ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10"><iframe style="width: 667px; height: 375px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIdvrPuvVtI" width="667" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Porch Pirates beware: drones may be watching you

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>20 July 2023</em></span></p>
<p class="text | article-text">It started with a report on a KIA Soul zooming around the Arrowhead Towne Center in&nbsp;Glendale, Arizona.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Then, things got uglier.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">When the person who reported the reckless driving confronted the teenager behind the wheel of the KIA, the driver pulled a gun. Before the car sped away, the caller was able to note that a total of five teenagers were inside the Soul, as well as get the vehicle's license number.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Not surprising, when the police ran the plate, it identified a car that had been stolen earlier that morning. Glendale officers were dispatched immediately, and a patrol SUV unsuccessfully attempted to pull over the KIA Soul.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Then, it was time for the police drone to join the operation.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">The drone tracked the car as it continued to be driven recklessly&mdash;ultimately hitting another vehicle. The five teens jumped out of the car and hoofed it, but to little avail. The driver has captured at a nearby restaurant (hiding in the bathroom), and his four accomplices were taken into custody shortly thereafter.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Unfortunately, Glendale's <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.glendaleaz.com/live/city_services/public_safety/police_department/our_community/unmanned_aircraft_system_drone_program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unmanned Aircraft System Drone Program</a></span> </strong></span>is fighting another example of popular tech&mdash;a TikTok trend that teaches people how to steal certain KIA and Hyundai models. The surge in thefts has prompted State and Federal governments to leap into action and consider a recall of millions of "at risk" automobiles. Both KIA and Hyundai updated their security software earlier this year, and in May, the automakers <span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.azfamily.com/2023/05/19/kia-hyundai-settle-class-action-lawsuit-after-rash-thefts-due-security-flaw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>settled a class-action suit</strong></a> </span>related to the increasing threat of theft.</p>
<h5 class="text | article-text"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Watch the Drama Unfold</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZJuH373vMxg" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>

Drone tracks down joyriding teens

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>07 July 2023</em></span></p>
<p>The Santa Monica Police Department is deploying a $12,000 drone as a quick-response, emergency "officer."</p>
<p>Speedier than Steve McQueen's iconic 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback in the film <em>Bullitt</em>, the drone officer can zip across the town in 2.5 minutes.</p>
<p>The police drone&mdash;which is on call 40 hours each week from a launchpad atop the Santa Monica Public Safety Facility&mdash;has been a member of the force since the SMPD established its drone program six years ago, but its duties were recently upgraded from pure reconnaissance to first responder. In fact, a 911 call placed in the city from 10 am to 8 pm Wednesday through Saturday is likely to be answered by the drone&mdash;which is piloted by a sworn officer who is backed up by a non-sworn "observer" pilot who watches the drone throughout its mission.</p>
<p>As of November 2021, the airborne officer was even given a new official title&mdash;Drone First Reponder (DFR)&mdash;as it can reach an emergency scene before conventional police vehicles get to the location.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The concept is you have something similar to a helicopter, with traditional air support,&rdquo; said <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Cpt. Saul Rodriguez</strong></span>. &ldquo;The person who operates the drone has the ability to monitor radio calls, and they can hop on calls whenever they feel like, &lsquo;Hey, I think I can answer this with a UAS.' The pilot is able to navigate the drone to where it needs to go.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, privacy concerns over the program have come up, as a DFR could conceivably be used to monitor private citizens.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We do not use this for random patrolling,&rdquo; said SMPD Officer <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Peter Lashley, </strong></span>a police drone operator. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t just go up and look for something&mdash;although, in some instances, the drone may be sent out on patrol. Say we had a specific parking structure where we&rsquo;re constantly having vehicle burglaries&mdash;there may be a periodic check. But that&rsquo;s a documented call where I&rsquo;m specifically going to that because of crime trends, calls for service, and whatnot.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In addition, one of the jobs of the non-sworn observer is to offer civilian oversight for the DFR. Furthermore, the FAA has stringent and complex rules for drone programs such as Santa Monica's DFR. (Chula Vista, San Diego, also has had a DFR program since 2018.)</p>
<p>The non-sworn observer has other jobs, as well, in addition to monitoring the drone from the roof of the SMPD facility. The DFR has a battery life of 30 minutes, so the observer must ensure that dozens of batteries are fully charged and ready to be swapped. Typically, the DFR is flown back to base every 25 minutes to have its ebbing batteries replaced with fresh ones. The department maintains enough batteries to keep the DFR airborne for 24 hours in case of an emergency&mdash;although the "patrol rounds" are usually eight-hour shifts.</p>
<p>In practice, the SMPD has discovered that an extremely benefit of the DFR is <em>de-escalation</em>.</p>
<p>"A frantic 911 call from a witness could include misinformation that could put officers as well as suspects in danger," explains Lashley. "The DFR can arrive at a call and assess danger while officers are still en route in patrol vehicles. That way, they&rsquo;ll know the precise location of any suspects and ascertain if there are any weapons, so officers know what situation they&rsquo;re walking into.&nbsp;It allows them to de-escalate, to power down, and approach the situation from hearing a veteran officer giving them information, rather than it coming from a random source.</p>
<p>The SMPD had just such a situation when a 911 reported teenagers waving handguns. Responding to a possible firearms threat is a serious concern for police officers and the public, but the DFR was able to immediately deliver surveillance footage that identified weapons as BB guns. The police response was therefore managed accordingly, given the DFR data, and a possible deadly force situation for the officers heading to the scene was avoided&mdash;although the incident was still approached as a serious threat. (The teens allegedly had tended to point the BB guns at people.)</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/F2SCwEPRDvo2w6vZtlhFCBLvcTwazehd1hooluCE.png" alt="" width="377" height="263" /> <img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/p6AvzdxhWbVj9dgG7ObOISqmBP3wqvSYzRXiLb2a.png" alt="" width="306" height="263" /></p>
<p><em><strong>In another incident, a potential gun threat was seen to be far-less serious.</strong></em></p>
<p>The DFR program&mdash;and its drone officer&mdash;has already proven its worth as a public-safety tool, and the Santa Monica Police Department is looking to increase staff and expand operations to seven days a week.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7iL8jEWf1g" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Santa Monica Police Department's Drone Officer

How Augmented Reality Heads-Up Displays are Transforming First Response

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>23 June 2023</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://aeronautics-sys.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aeronautics Ltd.</a></strong></span> &mdash; a world leader in designing, developing, and manufacturing comprehensive solutions focused on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for the global defense and HLS markets &mdash; is introducing a new paradigm in UAS system performance with the launch of the <a href="https://aeronautics-sys.com/systems/orbiter-5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Orbiter 5 UAS</strong></span></a>. This new innovative platform enables MALE mission capabilities in a tactical UAS, delivering a high-performance, multi-mission/multi-payload capabilities, and all in a cost-effective solution.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/FwDw8r3GODDDE4YBU6KPXwlc2z4Wst1OzVsylmnl.jpg" alt="" width="670" height="447" /></p>
<p>The Orbiter 5 provides an extended endurance time of more than 25 hours with multi-mission capabilities, enabled by its capacity to carry payload weight of more than 25kg, including two payloads simultaneously, and implementing advanced AI capabilities. In addition, the platform offers redundancy with a dual avionic system and a dual ignition engine for high degree of safety and ensures mission success. A powerful four strokes engine supplies up to 600W of electrical power for the onboard mission systems, enabling the use of complex payloads for varied ISTAR applications. With an advanced miniature radar, the Orbiter 5 is also the ultimate solution for maritime missions. The UAS platform was designed to enable short mission preparation times with rapid and simple assembly in the field, using only one tool, hence enabling the ability to launch multiple platforms in a matter of minutes for vast area surveillance and terrain dominance.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p>Operable in harsh weather conditions, the Orbiter 5 features an advanced navigation system and is fully operational in GPS-denied areas.</p>
<p>A highly-transportable vehicle-mounted system enables the Orbiter 5 to operate from anywhere without the need for fixed structures, such as runways, giving the Orbiter 5 system higher survivability than MALE platforms. The system features autonomous flight and recovery modes and has a small logistic footprint. Its low Life Cycle Cost (LCC) compared to other solutions for relevant operational requirements makes the Orbiter 5 extremely cost-effective.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Aeronautics continues to lead the market in unmanned aerial systems solutions and specifically in the tactical arena,&rdquo; says <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Dan Slasky</strong></span>, President &amp; CEO of Aeronautics Ltd. &ldquo;The result of years of innovative technological and system development at the Aeronautics Group and in response to customer needs, Orbiter 5 offers the mission "sweet spot" for current and future operational requirements. We are proud to say that this system was designed with our customers needs in mind, and has already logged hundreds of flight hours. We are confident that this newest member to the Aeronautics fleet, will provide current and future customer needs worldwide, together with the other members of the Orbiter family of systems."</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXITQTFNWlo" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>About the Aeronautics Group</strong></span></h5>
<p>Established in 1997, Aeronautics is a world leader in designing, developing, and manufacturing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for the global defense &amp; HLS markets. Backed by continuous research and development and with proven performance and operability, Aeronautics&rsquo; broad product portfolio includes the expertise of its subsidiaries and offers solutions for a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that lead the segment with innovative systems for the modern battlefield</p>

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