A police robot in Texas used tear gas when detaining a suspect, and then ran over him to prevent him from fleeing. VIDEO

2024

A police robot in Texas used tear gas when detaining a suspect, and then ran over him to prevent him from fleeing. VIDEO

At the end of September 2024, it became known that a police robot in Texas was able to smoke a suspect from cover with tear gas, and then detained.

Upon learning that an arrest warrant had been issued in his name, 39-year-old Felix Delarosa barricaded himself at the Lubbock Days Inn in Texas and began to shoot back from police officers who tried to call him to negotiations. Delarosa was holding a Bible-like book and talking to someone on the phone. The police called the capture group, but the negotiators were again met with shots. Despite attempts to persuade Delarosa to surrender peacefully, the suspect still opened fire at any approach.

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Realizing this, police officers sent a robot sapper of the Lubbock regional office to Delarosa's room. Delarosa tried to throw a blanket on him, but the robot moved him to spray tear gas in the room. A few moments later, Delarosa climbed out of the window, and the robot detained him until the police approached, climbing to his feet and pressing them to the ground. Delaros was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident. A sheriff's deputy who returned fire was placed on paid administrative leave under a Lubbock Police Department policy.

While the robot did its job this time around, not all cars used by other US police departments have been successful. The New York Police Department suspended its "Black Mirror" robot dogs following a backlash from residents who claimed they only patrol areas populated by people of color. The city's mayor, Eric Adams, announced in April 2023 that "Digidog will no longer be used by police officers."^[1]

Texas police received UAVs, which are the first to go to the crime scene. VIDEO

In mid-September 2024, it became known that the Texas police began using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the first means of responding to emergency calls. The program was called "An eye in the sky."

The idea is to ensure that information is received as quickly as possible from the scene. As soon as the signal of the alleged crime arrives, the drone is sent to the address and begins to transmit the image to the dispatcher before the police can arrive at the scene.

Inspector drones are made according to the quadcopter scheme. They are equipped with a battery pack, the charge of which lasts for about 40 minutes of flight. As soon as the battery runs out, the drone calls another drone to the scene, and it goes to the nearest site to replenish the energy reserve. Thus, the video is broadcast constantly, which helps the police in assessing the situation and developing an action plan.

Drones get to the desired address in fully autonomous mode. After that, the specialist of the dispatch center can take control in order to get a picture from the desired angle and examine the territory.

The new technology really helps us, because drones serve as an eye in the sky and give us real-time information even before officers arrive at the scene, says Brian Jones, police chief of the city of B-Cave (Travis County, Texas).

Drone routes are pre-programmed along local roads and highways. Video from drones in real time is transmitted to the control room, and from there - to smartphones and computers of patrol police officers. In the future, drones plan to equip a night vision system.^[2]

2021

In mid-March 2021, the Axon police and military technology company announced a partnership with the the American manufacturing company. drones Skydio With the new agreement, Axon has become the exclusive supplier of Skydio drones (such as Skydio 2 and X2) for law enforcement and police, while Skydio will be able to use Axon software tools such as Axon Evidence and Axon Response in its drones.

Both instruments are mostly observational in nature, so will not turn drones into weapons. Axon Evidence is used to collect video materials, similar to the Axon body cameras already produced. The drones are supposed to provide an "alternative view of the situation." At the same time, Axon explicitly stated in 2019 that it would not "commercialize products with facial recognition technologies." Skydio drones are capable of pursuing a target and bypassing obstacles without human involvement.

US police purchase Skydio drones that can target and bypass obstacles without human involvement

Skydio CEO Adam Bry also said in 2019 that the company still intends to remain in the consumer drone sales industry and does not want to arm its drones.

We are glad that our products are in demand in this market, "said Brai.

Skydio already sells drones to police departments that FAA have been granted permission to use drones outside line of sight in emergencies. However, the Axon deal would make it much easier for police to buy Skydio products.

In 2020, the company introduced the Skydio X2 (an exclusively military and corporate drone that will be one of the models sold by Axon). Skydio also has existing agreements with the Air Force and the U.S. Department of Defense and is being evaluated by the U.S. Army for participation in a short-range intelligence program.^[3]

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