What Drones Do Police Use?
Law enforcement agencies around the world have been rapidly adopting drones in their operations to enhance crime prevention, detection, and response. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer numerous benefits to police departments, including real-time video feed for surveillance, facial recognition software to identify suspects, and thermal imaging to search for missing persons. Here, we will explore some of the most commonly used drones by police forces across the globe.
Current Market Analysis
The increasing adoption of drones by police forces has led to an influx of specialized drones meeting specific law enforcement requirements. The global law enforcement drones market is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.5% between 2021 and 2028 (Source: MarketsandMarkets).
Top drones used by police
Various drone manufacturers offer specialized designs and capabilities catering to different law enforcement needs. Based on their features, customization, and widespread adoption, here are some of the top drones used by police:
• DJI Matrice 210-series: Fixed-wing rotorcraft, featuring a strong and agile design, GPS navigation, and panoramic sensors (e.g., thermal and multispectral imaging).
- Suitable for search-and-rescue missions, forest fires, and surveillance ops.
- Can take off and land vertically
• DJi Phenom RTK: A tricopter boasting RTK (Real-time Kinematic) technology, enabling high-precision drone navigation.
- Excels in precision agriculture inspections, topographical mapping, and high-speed pursuits
- 35 mph (56 km/h) top speed
• Inspection by D Robotics: Long-range mapping drone for infrastructure surveys, crime scene analysis, and construction site monitoring
- Offers multispectral sensors (e.g., visible and infrared cameras)
- Can stay aloft for up to 45 minutes
• Agricultural Aviation Drones Limited (AADL) AP-60: Electric-powered quadcopter emphasizing night-time surveillance
- Provides advanced thermal imaging, allowing search parties to track suspects by heat signatures
- 18,000 cm (20 ft) effective range
Key specifications and capabilities
Here are some key features and capabilities of the above-mentioned police drones:
| Drone Type | Sensors/ Cameras | Speed (mph) | Range (feet/yards) | Endurance (hours/min) | Autopilot | Fixed-wing capability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrice 210-series | Thermal, Multispectral | 31-66 | 3000′ / 3,937 | Up to 31 minutes | GPS, SDK | √ |
| Phantom RTK | RGB/IR cameras, RTK | 35 | Unspecified | Up to 25 minutes | GPS | √ |
| Inspection drone | Multispectral sensor | N/A | > 2,000 / 6,562 yards | Up to 25 minutes | RTK+GPS | X |
| AP-60 | IR thermal sensor | N/A | 18,000 / 19,688 cm | Up to 30 minutes | GPS+Bearing | X |
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of police-approved drones; more manufacturers provide specialized units. Additionally, specifications might change as advancements are made.
Common applications and scenarios
As drones have become more powerful and efficient, law enforcement agencies are using them increasingly for various tasks:
• Surveillance and reconnaissance
- Overseeing crowded areas, parades, or large protests
- Monitoring perimeters of buildings, correctional facilities, or sporting events
- Coordinating tactical operations without putting ground units at risk
• Search-and-rescue and missing person cases
- Sweeping for signs of persons in life-threatening situations, such as after natural disasters
- Locating missing people by thermal tracking or detecting life signs from above
- Illuminating search areas at night
• Crime prevention and investigations
- Monitoring for loiterers, gangs, or fugitives in high-traffic areas
- Capturing suspect images/video for crime scene analysis, facial recognition, or interviews
- Tracking forensic evidence for reconstruction and post-incident analysis
• Disaster response and urban search and rescue
- Mapping destruction zones, inspecting hard-to-reach areas (e.g., collapsed structures)
- Locating survivors under rubble or during urban floods
- Enhancing situational awareness and providing critical ground support
As the market continues to evolve, advancements in drone swarm technology will likely permit law enforcement agencies to implement more effective and efficient coordination strategies.
Conclusion and Future Trends
The implementation of drones by police departments has brought significant benefits and cost savings to their daily operations. These versatile instruments can improve surveillance, enable more accurate and efficient crime scene reconstruction, facilitate life-saving rescue missions, and enhance resource allocation.
Future trends point towards further specialization, development of advanced AI-powered technologies, and seamless integration between drones, software, and ground-based equipment. Some potential future advancements include:
- Improved hazard sensing and avoidance technologies
- Enhanced security features to protect against hacker attacks or tampering
- Autonomous drone deployments for disaster response and response to hostage situations
- The expansion of swarming technologies to facilitate highly coordinated police responses
Staying updated with the ongoing advancements and research in these areas is crucial for modern law enforcement agencies to excel in the age of AI-powered aerial law enforcement support.
