By Police1 Staff
In today’s rapidly advancing world of public safety, drones are dramatically altering emergency response and law enforcement operations. Recently, Adam Bry, CEO and co-founder of Skydio, joined Police1’s Policing Matters podcast to discuss how Skydio’s groundbreaking developments in drone technology, specifically the Dock for X10 and DFR Command (Drone as First Responder Command), are transforming real-time response efforts in policing.
“There’s just no reason you shouldn’t be able to get immediate, real-time aerial intelligence over any situation — any emergency, any 911 call, any fire — to make better decisions,” Bry explained on the podcast. He emphasized that the “real power” of Skydio’s technology lies in how it lowers operational friction, allowing drones to be deployed effortlessly for critical incident responses.
Skydio Dock for X10: From crew-based DFR to dock-based DFR
Dock for X10 addresses some of the major constraints of traditional DFR deployments: the need for battery swaps, manual piloting and on-site setup. Now, the X10 drone can be stationed remotely, housed in a durable, weatherproof dock, and launched completely autonomously, ready for action 24/7.
This evolution shifts DFR (Drone as First Responder) from being crew-based, requiring personnel on rooftops, to a fully dock-based operation — enabling rapid, hands-free deployment at any moment. Bry shared that the goal of the Dock for X10 and DFR Command isn’t just about the technology but about the seamless operational experience it provides: “The better the technology gets, the lower the friction is on the other side,” he said. “It’s just to get the sensor exactly when and where you need it really quickly, with no friction.”
DFR Command: Centralizing control for Drone as First Responder
Skydio’s DFR Command software enhances the capabilities of the Dock for X10 by enabling centralized pilot control over drone operations. With DFR Command, agencies can manage multiple drones remotely, dispatching them in response to calls for service, tracking their progress, and monitoring real-time data — all from a centralized command center. This software is a crucial innovation in Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations, allowing real-time crime centers to receive critical information without delay and deliver actionable insights to officers on the ground.
Bry highlighted a significant milestone achieved with the NYPD, which was granted FAA permission to operate drones beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) across most of New York City without needing a visual observer and expensive radar systems: “It’s a really exciting milestone because that’s one of the key pieces that needs to exist for the vision of ubiquitous DFR to be possible.”
How the Dock for X10 and DFR Command will redefine drone capabilities
Together, the Dock for X10 and DFR Command represent a leap forward in DFR capabilities. Drones can now be deployed autonomously to assess emergencies, such as fires, natural disasters, or active crime scenes, even before first responders arrive. Automated triggers that integrate with CAD systems, gunshot detection technology and license plate readers enable a drone to respond from the dock with a single mouse click. This gives command centers valuable time to make informed decisions based on real-time data from the field. By the time officers arrive on scene, they are equipped with critical information about the geographic layout, potential threats and any ongoing changes, enhancing both safety and efficiency.
A striking example of these advancements was demonstrated at Skydio’s Ascend 24 Conference. In a live demo, Skydio’s X10 drone withstood extreme weather conditions, including wind and rain and in complete darkness to simulate nighttime operations, highlighting its versatility in various scenarios. This feature is invaluable for agencies that need drones to operate during adverse weather — emergencies don’t pause for rain or wind, and, neither do Skydio’s drones.
Real-world impact: Faster and smarter emergency response
The immediate real-world impact of these technologies cannot be understated. In Alaska, the Department of Transportation uses Skydio drones to monitor infrastructure and assess storm damage, drastically reducing response times from days to mere hours. In North Carolina, drones have played a critical role in search and rescue missions following hurricanes. With the Skydio DFR solution, these efforts can be coordinated remotely, scaling across multiple locations without requiring personnel to physically be on scene to manage the drone.
Bry remarked on this shift in capability, describing the evolution from manual operation to autonomous, cloud-managed systems: “In my view, it’s the way it should work, and in 10 years, we’ll think it was crazy to have drones without docks.”
“In 10 years, we’ll think it was crazy to have drones without docks.”
Increased transparency and enhanced public trust
One of the indirect but crucial benefits of Skydio’s DFR technology is the potential for increased public trust. Transparency in policing is vital, and drones can provide an objective, aerial perspective during critical incidents. In addition to body-worn cameras, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has embraced drones as a transparency tool, using footage to provide the public with an unbiased view of events as they unfold. This footage helps build community trust by showcasing law enforcement efforts in real time, offering an unfiltered look at officer actions and responses.
Bry noted that drones have become a valuable tool for agencies aiming to enhance transparency, as illustrated by Las Vegas Metro PD’s open policy on sharing drone footage following incidents.
The future of DFR with Skydio’s Dock for X10 and DFR Command
By removing operational barriers and providing scalable, autonomous solutions, Skydio is making it easier for agencies to integrate drones into their everyday operations. Skydio recently announced the launch of an end-to-end offering for drones in public safety in partnership with Axon. This collaboration integrates Skydio’s autonomous drone technology with Axon’s real-time operations and evidence management platforms and devices — flying autonomously to the location of a body-worn camera or fleet vehicle to assist an officer in need, arriving before ground units, enhancing emergency response, situational awareness and officer safety. Drones are no longer experimental or supplementary tools — they are rapidly becoming a staple in the toolkit of modern public safety, especially with solutions like the Dock for X10 and DFR Command that emphasize efficiency, reliability and real-time responsiveness.
With Skydio’s vision, the future of DFR is not only achievable but here now. Bry expressed his excitement for the continued deployment and impact of these systems: “We’ve done a lot to get here, but I feel like we’re just getting started. The most exciting announcements aren’t about the product or technology — it’s about the deployments and the impact.”