Splitting the Workload


Drones have the advantage of being quick to deploy, effective for aerial monitoring, and cheap enough to replace that they can be flown into danger. Helicopters provide the ability to move payloads, deploy officers, and remove victims to safety.


Because each of these rotor-based platforms do different things better, splitting the workload between them is relatively easy to do. The result: “Due to their limited payload and range- endurance capabilities, drones are being used primarily for localized surveillance, crowd monitoring, and before SWAT/ tactical team insertions,” Bucari said.


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“Helicopters are still being used for bigger surveillance missions, patrol, integration with ground units, SAR, and SWAT insertions.”


Here’s the balance: “While there will always be a need for helicopters in public safety, some agencies are freeing up these helicopter assets from smaller missions that can be conducted with drones, leaving the heavier aircraft free for missions such as vehicle pursuits or patient transport in difficult terrain,” said Baker. “When helicopters can’t reach an area due to weather or terrain, drones can step in. For example, during Hurricane Helene, the DJI FlyCart 30, which can carry up to 88 pounds, was used to deliver water and medicine


to people trapped as the roads were destroyed. In that mountainous terrain, it was not as easy to fly a helicopter to do this task.”


Of course, as drones develop more capabilities, the balance cited above is shifting. Today, “tactical overwatch, SWAT callouts, and even suspect apprehensions are now routinely handled by drones as a lower-cost, easier-to-use, and more flexible alternative,” LaFond said. “For example, drones like Skydio’s X10 can be launched by a remote pilot from a dock on a roof and arrive at the incident scene even before first responders — allowing them to better allocate resources and gain unparalleled situational awareness.”


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