The Bee Cave Police Department located in a suburb of Austin, TX has been selected as the only department in the state to participate in a pilot program that allows officers to deploy autonomous drones in emergencies.
The drones – called AV8s – were developed by Eve Vehicles Corporation who worked with first responders in their design. The AV8s are intended to aid first responders by arriving at the scene of an emergency faster than humans can. Once 911 operators receive the location of an emergency, the drones can get to the scene within three minutes and transmit information back to the dispatch center.
“The drone will be able to be the first one on the scene and will provide real time information and feedback to what our officers are on route to,” Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones said.
This pilot project will use three drones deployed at various locations throughout the city. The nearest drone to a 911 call will respond, transmitting live video as it flies, allowing police to monitor the situation in real-time. The drone can fly for over 40 minutes on a single charge and has reached speeds of up to 67 miles per hour (~ 108 km/hr) during testing. After completing its mission, it will return to an internet based docking station called “The Nest” where it will automatically maintain itself with power, protection, and connectivity.
“This is just another innovation that the police department here in Bee Cave is embracing in order to better serve our community,” Roger Pecina, the CEO of Eve Vehicles Corporation said.