The overview
The department soft-launched a pilot program with Austin-based startup Eve Vehicles in late August.
Unlike the drones that Bee Cave PD already uses, the first responder AV8 drone system is not dependent on pilots.
Instead, it can fly, land and recharge without an operator.
“This program is designed to be a force multiplier for the police department," Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones said in a statement. "These advanced drones will be able to arrive on scene of any type of call much quicker than an officer in a vehicle would be able to respond, and it will give us real-time intelligence and real-time information as to what the officers are en route to."
How it works
The AV8 drones will be “nested” around the city, waiting for orders to dispatch to a scene, according to a news release.
Once on the scene of an emergency, such as a traffic accident or wildfire, the drones can transmit a live video feed in real time to law enforcement.
When it needs to recharge or dispatch relieves them, it will head back to its nest.
Quote of note
“It's not spying on people's backyards. It's using public airways, known as vectors, to respond to public areas where we have traffic accidents, hazards and other incidents where officers need to get a real-time evaluation within seconds so they know how many officers or fire trucks to send,” said John Buell, vice president of strategic partnerships with Eve Vehicles, in a statement.
What's next
In the coming months, the AV8 drones will begin responding to actual 911 calls.
If the pilot program is successful, the department may continue using the system; however a timeline for completion is not yet known, according to a city spokesperson.
