Drones

The department is fine-tuning a pilot program in which drones buzzing over beaches could drop flotation buoys to struggling swimmers. The idea is to give imperiled swimmers something to hold on to as a lifeguard responds.

These relatively new transportation technologies are close to transforming the way people and cargo travel, some of the world’s biggest names in business and politics were told at a high-powered gathering.

The San Antonio-based drone maker, Darkhive Inc., has tripled its workforce and is planning to move into a new 10,000-square-foot facility in the Lone Star neighborhood south of downtown.

In Mitchell, S.D., a handful of city departments, including the police, emergency management, parks and public works, are among those that intend to utilize the new unmanned aircraft system, if approved.

The previous ordinance, passed in recent years, had stated that unmanned aerial craft could not be flown over the city's police station or public parks, but the FAA said the city doesn’t have agency to decide that.

The NYPD plans to start piloting drones over certain crime scenes across the five boroughs, in some cases pairing the technology with the department's ongoing ShotSpotter technology.

So far this year state and federal officials have had to ground their aircraft at least seven times due to unauthorized drone flights near active wildfires, according to state officials.

The drone, estimated to cost around $30,000, was bought with a Federal Homeland Security grant. The Kalispell Fire Department was one of six hazardous material response agencies to receive the aircraft and specialized training.

A report by the American Civil Liberties Union released last month about the use of drones by police agencies contains cautionary tales about what's to come, very quickly, if citizens don't speak out.

The Special Operations Unit will consist of three-person teams working across three eight-hour shifts that will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to department officials.

The rise of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology is prompting a legislative response in the Bluegrass State. Lawmakers there have introduced a bill aimed at stiffening penalties for misuse of the technologies.

Eager for a chance to prove their value, many public safety agencies are starting with donations and grants to implement new drone programs. The gifts are proving useful to inspire additional funding for devices.

For state and local government agencies across the U.S., GIS technology has the power to inform decision-making, impact funding and improve the constituent experience through various applications.

The New York Power Authority has approved funding for an ambitious expansion of its drone program in which technicians will use the aerial vehicles to inspect power lines and other hard-to-reach or hazardous infrastructure.

The drones, which can land and take off from water, pair a payload lifting ability with being completely waterproof, thereby allowing operators to fly personal floatation devices or radios to stranded victims.

At least 1,400 police departments across the country are using drones in some fashion, but only 15 have obtained waivers from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly their drones beyond the visual line of sight. That is about to change, experts say.

An Army tech testing group is working on the app, which it says will make American service members in the Middle East less susceptible to drone attacks by using pictures to identify drones and determine flight paths.

Any sharks lurking just beyond the water’s edge will have to work a little harder to go unnoticed this summer thanks to drone technology. Lifeguards at Jones Beach in New York are using the tech to spot the aquatic predators.