DFR drone race in the US is heating up… what’s next?

General Drone Discussions
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For those who aren’t deep into the drone space, the DFR (Drones as First Responders) race is getting serious in the US.

What is DFR?
DFR is when police departments deploy drones automatically from a docking station (drone-in-a-box) to respond to 911 calls. The drone streams live footage to officers en route, giving them real-time situational awareness. There are other use cases, but this is the big one. However, this isn’t easy—cellular connectivity, FAA regulations, hardware limitations, and software all make it a challenge.

Right now, only about 15 small-to-mid-sized departments have solid DFR programs, while some larger metro areas are in early testing phases with plans to expand citywide. Notable ones include Chula Vista PD, Memorial Villages PD, Pearland PD, and Oklahoma City PD.

Why does this matter?

With all the talk about banning DJI, most hobbyists won’t be affected, but law enforcement is feeling the impact. Many departments rely on DJI for their DFR setups, but US-based manufacturers are stepping up to compete.

Major Players Right Now:

  • DJI (partnering with software like DroneSense, Paladin, etc.)
  • Skydio (partnering with Axon, the largest public safety tech company)
  • Flock Safety / Aerodome (currently using DJI but planning their own drones soon)
  • BRINC (fully independent, making both hardware and software)

Setting up a DFR program isn’t cheap—costs range from $250K per dock to $20M for full city coverage. DJI setups cost around $80K per dock (including software, training, etc.). Plus, departments need FAA waivers to legally operate these programs.

The Business War Behind the Drones

  • Axon (owns 80% of the body cam market, TASER, and more) is consolidating the drone space, heavily pushing Skydio.
  • Flock Safety, a fast-growing public safety tech company, recently acquired Aerodome and Uniform Sierra to expand into DFR.
  • Axon vs. Flock: Axon recently cut all API ties with Flock’s equipment as a competitive move.

The Future of DFR

Most departments are still testing with DJI while waiting for US manufacturers to catch up. Unlike DJI, companies like BRINC and Skydio act as full-service partners, helping departments secure FAA waivers as part of the package.

With all this movement, DFR could lead to a future where drones regularly patrol streets, mixing with drone delivery services and creating a congested airspace in the next 5-10 years.

TL;DR: The push to ban DJI for law enforcement is all about DFR. US drone companies are stepping in, while major players like Axon are consolidating the market. This tech could lead to widespread drone surveillance in the near future.

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I was a big advocate for first responder drones before they were even mainstream. The department I worked for had multiple helicopters—if we ditched just one, we could’ve had drones for every squad car, plus training and spares.

It just makes no sense to me why more departments aren’t shifting to drones. They’re useful for so many things. But hey, we’re out here banning TikTok instead, so… :man_shrugging:

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@Frankie
I used to manage private aircraft, so I know firsthand how expensive they are to operate. Even the most high-end drones are cheaper and more efficient than helicopters in most cases.

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This is some solid info. Appreciate the breakdown.

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Thanks for taking the time to write this up—super informative.

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Haru said:
Thanks for taking the time to write this up—super informative.

Glad you found it useful!

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I used to fly for Chula Vista’s DFR program—very interesting experience.

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Finley said:
I used to fly for Chula Vista’s DFR program—very interesting experience.

Chula Vista was one of the first to adopt this tech. I’ve worked with former officers from their drone program, and they’ve all been extremely knowledgeable. They’re highly valued in the private sector now.

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@Kai
When you say ‘everyone,’ are you talking about the officers who act as remote pilots, or the non-sworn operators running the drone stations?

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Linden said:
@Kai
When you say ‘everyone,’ are you talking about the officers who act as remote pilots, or the non-sworn operators running the drone stations?

Mainly the officers involved in the drone program, from what I’ve seen.

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@Kai
Chula Vista was the first place I heard of doing DFR.

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@Kai
What drones are they using in Chula Vista?

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Don’t forget about American Robotics and their Optimus platform. They recently got FAA Type Certification.

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Finley said:
Don’t forget about American Robotics and their Optimus platform. They recently got FAA Type Certification.

Optimus looks interesting. Their drone-in-a-box setup is HUGE, though, which probably means it’s expensive. Also, I don’t think it’s NDAA or Blue List compliant (could be wrong). The payload-swapping feature is cool, but for DFR, you really just need a dual color/thermal camera—extra swapping points are just another potential failure point.

Seems like they were built for industrial use, and DFR was more of an afterthought. They’re making big moves in Israel, though. Definitely keeping an eye on them.

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FYI—Axon just sent out a response email about Flock’s announcement that they cut API access. Flock is trying to dominate the ALPR (license plate reader) space and force departments onto their own platform (FlockOS) instead of integrating with competitors. They’re holding departments hostage by charging insane per-camera integration fees.

Really hoping Axon steps up with a competitive product because the space badly needs it.

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@Riley
Yeah, Flock basically told customers, ‘If you want to integrate with Fusus (which Axon owns now), it’ll cost you a ton, but our native OS is free.’ API fees are normal, but this was a direct hit on Axon, and they responded by cutting ties. Flock definitely poked the bear.

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With RedCat getting military contracts, they’ll probably get some attention in this space too. And don’t forget Anduril…

There are already a bunch of autonomous drone docking stations in development.

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Vale said:
With RedCat getting military contracts, they’ll probably get some attention in this space too. And don’t forget Anduril…

There are already a bunch of autonomous drone docking stations in development.

Yeah, after winning the SRR Tranche 2 contract, RedCat definitely has more funding to play with now.

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Vale said:
With RedCat getting military contracts, they’ll probably get some attention in this space too. And don’t forget Anduril…

There are already a bunch of autonomous drone docking stations in development.

Anduril is a massive player in federal contracts. I don’t see them going after DFR, though, because the scale of their military deals makes DFR contracts look tiny by comparison.

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Wait, we’re not already in a dystopian future where everything is monitored and broadcasted by the government?