Drones are transforming the landscape of public safety. That’s at least if you ask Skydio, an American drone company that makes drones marketed toward Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs.
Yesterday I told you about the DJI Matrice 4 series, which is DJI’s newest public safety drone. That drone starts at just under $5,000 and can take off in 15 seconds, avoid obstacles (and reroute around them) and capture 48 MP images on its tele-camera, as well as its second wide-angle camera.
But the Matrice Series is hardly the only set of public safety drones out there. For many companies who prioritize buying American made drones, Skydio is the best. And Skydio has certainly been seeing its products go to real use, as indicated by a public safety drones report issued by Skydio in January 2025.
The report analyzed nearly 2,000 flights conducted between Sept. 15, 2024, and Nov. 14, 2024 to reveal how drones are reshaping police and fire department operations. Here are some of the key insights:
5 things we learned in Skydio’s report on public safety drones
- 1. Public safety drone use cases are more than just finding lost people in the woods
- 2. Drones are mostly used at night
- 3. Drones can often replace helicopters
- 4. Missions can last hours (and here’s how you can make drones last hours too)
- 5. Agencies want to use public safety drones — largely because they’re cost-effective
1. Public safety drone use cases are more than just finding lost people in the woods
When you say public safety drones, the first use case might be to find people lost in the woods. But as it turns out, drones are used in not just emergency rescues, but other use cases. From tracking armed burglars in San Francisco to rescuing lost hikers in Las Vegas, drones have proven invaluable in a variety of situations. They also play a significant role in vehicle and foot pursuits, enabling officers to halt dangerous chases while drones maintain visual contact with suspects.
The San Francisco Police Department used a drone to arrest three armed auto burglaries:
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Police Department used a drone to respond to an active shooter, as documenting in this video below (viewer discretion advised):
2. Drones are mostly used at night
That Oklahoma City use case occurred at night. And as it turns out according to Skydio’s report, more than half of the drone flights (58%) occurred between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., emphasizing the critical role drones play during the darkest hours.
In the past, drones have often faltered in low-light conditions. There were also legal holdups. It wasn’t until 2021 that the Federal Aviation Administration made it possible for certified drone pilots to obtain near real-time authorizations to fly at night through FAA-approved providers of Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services. Recreational operators didn’t unlock that ability to apply for night flights through LAANC until 2023.
But it’s now 2025, and thanks to rules making night flight possible, coupled with newer tech like Skydio’s NightSense technology (and the FLIR Boson+ thermal cameras used on Skydio drones) drones can conduct autonomous flights — and use obstacle avoidance — in near-total darkness. These days, night flights are not only common, but they’re relatively safe and effective.
3. Drones can often replace helicopters
Many police departments lack access to costly helicopter support, but drones offer an affordable alternative. According to Skydio’s report, many police department would ideally use a helicopter largely for the purpose of keeping officers safe. But these days, drones can do that job.
“Officers are directly requesting drones to be dispatched to their location to provide additional layers of safety,” according to Skydio.
By providing aerial perspectives, drones reduce risks during dangerous situations, such as responding to armed suspects or tracking individuals in high-speed chases. In some cases, the presence of a drone has even de-escalated volatile situations by offering real-time intelligence. And of course, drones are far cheaper than helicopters.
4. Missions can last hours (and here’s how you can make drones last hours too)
The study found that 17% of all calls for service required more than one drone flight throughout the duration of the incident playing out. In fact, 28% of all drone flights were merely to relieve drones on extended missions.
Continuous scene monitoring is critical in incidents like search-and-rescue operations, which can last hours. Skydio’s solution for this is their Hive model, which places multiple co-located docking stations in the vicinity to ensure seamless transitions between drones that maintain uninterrupted coverage.
5. Agencies want to use public safety drones — largely because they’re cost-effective
With many public safety agencies operating below budgeted staffing levels, drones are proving to be invaluable force multipliers. Skydio’s partnership with Axon allows drones to be dispatched directly to an officer’s body-worn camera location with a single click. This integration enables officers to request backup, track suspects, or call for medical aid without delay.
Skydio’s study underscores a clear trend: no matter the actual drone used, drones for public safety are coming in as more than a neat piece of tech to try out — they’re essential.
Want to learn more about drones in public safety? Check out Skydio’s January 2025 report.
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