Autonomous drones set to be first responders to 911 calls in Texas

The Bee Cave Police Department in Austin wants to boost first responder capabilities using autonomous drones.

Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones stated that the AV8 drone system can respond to any emergency, acting as the eyes and ears for first responders on scene or en route. Bee Cave, an Austin suburb, is located about 15 miles west of downtown.

The drones will autonomously launch without the need for a pilot. When it’s time to recharge or when a new team takes over, they return to their base and await their next mission.

“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 in route to,” Jones explained .

The Eve Vehicles website describes these highly specialized, autonomous drones as “operating within their environment and collaborating with a team to provide early intelligence, which helps in effectively allocating the appropriate resources.”

Drone system to function like birds in a nest

According to Roger Pecina, the CEO of Eve Vehicles Corporation, three drones will be deployed at various locations throughout the city. The drones and their stations around the city will function like birds in a nest. The nearest drone to a 911 call will respond, return to its station after the call, recharge, and wait for the next mission.

As the drone flies, live video will be transmitted to the police, allowing them 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 during testing, Pecina added.

Jones also noted that this technology provides an additional tool to ensure the safety of both the community and first responders during emergencies.

“This is just another innovation that the police department here in Bee Cave is embracing in order to better serve out community,” he said.

Limited deployment of AV8 system in Bee Cave expected in days

The AV8 system could be deployed for limited emergency calls in Bee Cave as soon as next week. Full deployment of the system is anticipated in one to two months, local media reported .

Three launch sites, including two local schools, were chosen for the Bee Cave AV8 pilot program. The selection of these schools was made prior to last Wednesday’s mass shooting at Georgia’s Apalachee High School.

If an incident similar to the recent school shooting in Georgia were to occur here, the drone technology would provide information before officers arrive on the scene, allowing them to better prepare for engaging a suspect, according to Police Chief Brian Jones.

“We could possibly know their location before the officers arrive, and we could better respond to that situation and possibly save lives,” Jones noted.