10/21/2025
1 SAN JACINTO
DFR PILOT PROGRAM
SKYDIO X-10 DRONE
HISTORY OF SKYDIO
• Founded in 2014 by Adam Bry, Abe Bachrach, and Matt Donahoe. All three studied at MIT. • They believed drones have enormous potential across industries and applications. • August 2023, Skydio exited consumer market to focus on Military, Police, and Industrial users • As of November 2024, 50% of Skydio’s business is Military 1 2
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2 DRONE THE DFR PROGRAM USES
• Skydio X-10
• Introduced in 2023*
• Top speed 45 mph*
• 36 mph with Obstacle Avoidance*
• Weight 4.75 lbs*
• 5G connectivity*
• Operational Temp. Range -4°F to 113°F*
• Flight Time 40 min*
• FLIR equipped*
* Published data from Skydio website
PILOT PROGRAM AT SAN JACINTO STATION
• Conducted from July 7, 2025 to August 15, 2025
• 12 (FAA part 107) pilots conducted flights • Rising Tide Technology Group (RTTG) conducted training and assisted with the pilot program. • Crew based flights (0700-1700 / 1400-2200) • July 7th to July 30th • Dock based flights • July 30th to August 15th
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3 PILOT PROGRAM AT SAN JACINTO STATION
• 306 flights conducted
• 67.6 hours of flight time
• 207 calls for service
• 138 times drone was 1st on scene out of the 207 calls • 21 suspects in custody with help of the drone • Responses to all calls for service (In progress, critical incidents, alarm calls, ped checks, vehicle stops, etc)
PILOT PROGRAM AT SAN JACINTO STATION
• 306 flights conducted
• 67.6 hours of flight time
• 207 calls for service
• 138 times drone was 1st on scene out of the 207 calls • 21 suspects in custody with help of the drone • Responses to all calls for service (In progress, critical incidents, alarm calls, ped checks, vehicle stops, etc)
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4 ADVANTAGES OF SKYDIO’S DFR PROGRAM
•Drone launches quickly (20 seconds) with rapid response to calls. (Average flight time to call for service = 3-4 mins, depending on distance.)
• Enabling early threat assessments and optimizing field response.
ADVANTAGES OF SKYDIO’S DFR PROGRAM
• Ability to handle calls for service without a deputy in the field having to respond. (Pilot deputies can close out certain calls) • 459 alarms, suspicious vehicles/persons, 647H, traffic hazards, 23103’s, area checks,
• Good camera capabilities. • Zoom feature helpful as drone is responding to call and being able to view scene prior to arrival or from a distance. • FLIR ability for low light and darkness. 7 8
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5 ADVANTAGES OF SKYDIO’S DFR PROGRAM
• Drone return to dock feature works effortlessly and makes for safe landings. • Allows for response of another drone to location quickly. • Drone begins charging immediately upon docking. • Recharge time was equal to 1 min for every 1 min of flight time. • Average flight was 13.4 min. • AXON integration. • Immediate upload of data and video from flight. • Able to view videos on evidence.com under the pilot's name who was logged on for the flight. • Unlimited storage (Same server as our BWC) will help comply with new State Supreme Court ruling pertaining to Drone footage retention and availability to the public. • Be able to mark videos as evidentiary and non-evidentiary.
ADVANTAGES OF SKYDIO’S DFR PROGRAM
• Flight Deck software program. • Easy to use. • Every movement is at your fingertips. • DFR link (QR Code) for everyone to be able to view footage, helping with real time information. • Street overlay helpful in identifying cross streets and directing responding units or following a subject who left the location. • Ability to fly from any computer that has an internet connection. • One pilot flew from his MDC from the passenger seat enroute to the call, obtaining pertinent information and obtaining a view of the suspect before they even arrived on scene.
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6 ADVANTAGES OF SKYDIO’S DFR PROGRAM
• Obstacle avoidance system. • Ability to detect unforeseen obstacles and safely maneuver around them or stop the drone. • Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). • Ability to see manned aircraft in your flight area and their current altitude. • Allows pilot to descend to a safe altitude and leave the area if need be.
DRONE INVOLVED CALLS FOR SERVICE
• #I251890056 - July 8, 2025 - 1600 hours • FLOCK hit of a 215 PC vehicle taken out of Montclair, CA. • Vehicle located on Ramona Expressway X Esplanade Avenue. • Suspect vehicle entered Stater Bros parking lot and suspects exited vehicle and went into Starbucks. • Drone was overhead and witnessed subjects enter Starbucks. • One subject, who changed clothes, exited Starbucks. Drone operator identified him and directed deputies to him. • Other subject fled out the back and entered storm drain system. • Drone was overhead and assisted SEB with apprehension. 11 12
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7 DRONE INVOLVED CALLS FOR SERVICE
• #I251980074 - July 17, 2025 - 1937 hours • 459 residential alarm. • Drone arrived on scene and checked the exterior of the residence. • Responder was on phone with son and had him come out and give a thumbs up to the drone. • Saved a deputy response.
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8 DRONE INVOLVED CALLS FOR SERVICE
• #I251990059 - July 18, 2025 - 2051 hours • Son took pills intending to kill himself. • Son left residence and jumped the back fence. • Drone responded and located the subject in bushes behind the residence using FLIR camera. • Drone observed subject crawling on all fours and directed deputies to location.
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9 DRONE INVOLVED CALLS FOR SERVICE
• #I252250029 - August 13, 2025 - 0958 hours • Subject in Aldi’s Market parking lot exposing himself. • Drone was first on scene and located subject. • Operator maintained visual and directed responding unit to location. • RTCC assisted by identifying the suspect and determining he was on PRCS. • Secondary deputy obtained the PRCS hold while deputies were still enroute. • Suspect arrested for 314 PC, PRCS hold, and H&S. 17 18
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10 DRONE INVOLVED CALLS FOR SERVICE
• #I252260086 - August 14, 2025 - 1744 hours • Subject Code N on Fentanyl and can’t walk, near a busy intersection. • Drone was first on scene and located subject. • Subject was acting erratic and showing obvious signs of being under the influence. • Operator directed units to location and video was used as evidence. 19 20
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11 DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Battery life. • A flight time of roughly 40 min (normally less) made on scene time of the drone somewhat limited on calls for service that were 2 ½ miles from the dock. • Had to do an unplanned landing due to battery life. • How to resolve this drawback • Changing the mindset of the pilot from constant surveillance to first on scene with drone. • The DFR platform quickly gets drones on scene to relay critical information to responding units. • If constant surveillance is needed, a trunk drone (portable drone) is more applicable. • Multiple drone docks placed throughout the city. • Two docks on the roof of the Sheriff Station will give ability to launch a 2nd drone upon return of the 1st drone, if more intel is needed at a critical scene. • One dock placed on a county asset building on the west end of the city will bring coverage to the 1/3rd of the city that a drone from the station can not safely reach due to battery limitations.
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12 DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Battery life. • A flight time of roughly 40 min (normally less) made on scene time of the drone somewhat limited on calls for service that were 2 ½ miles from the dock. • Had to do an unplanned landing due to battery life. • How to resolve this drawback • Changing the mindset of the pilot from constant surveillance to first on scene with drone. • The DFR platform quickly gets drones on scene to relay critical information to responding units. • If constant surveillance is needed, a trunk drone (portable drone) is more applicable. • Multiple drone docks placed throughout the city. • Two docks on the roof of the Sheriff Station will give ability to launch a 2nd drone upon return of the 1st drone, if more intel is needed at a critical scene. • One dock placed on a county asset building on the west end of the city will bring coverage to the 1/3rd of the city that a drone from the station can not safely reach due to battery limitations.
DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Connection issues. • Several times flights were cancelled and drone returned due to connectivity issues. • Cell and GPS connection dropped a few times. • How to resolve this drawback. • Since Flight deck software is website based and utilizes an internet connection. • A strong internet connection is necessary to maintain connectivity and solve any latency issues. • A dedicated computer, with wired internet connection, used strictly for drone program would fix issues. • Computer we were initially using at the station had limitations that hindered the performance with latency issues. San Jacinto acquired a new computer which solved the issue. • The added antenna that Skydio provides with the dock system helped tremendously with cellular and GPS issues we had during crew-based flights, causing less connection losses. 23 24
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13 DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Connection issues. • Several times flights were cancelled and drone returned due to connectivity issues. • Cell and GPS connection dropped a few times. • How to resolve this drawback. • Since Flight deck software is website based and utilizes an internet connection. • A strong internet connection is necessary to maintain connectivity and solve any latency issues. • A dedicated computer, with wired internet connection, used strictly for drone program would fix issues. • Computer we were initially using at the station had limitations that hindered the performance with latency issues. San Jacinto acquired a new computer which solved the issue. • The added antenna that Skydio provides with the dock system helped tremendously with cellular and GPS issues we had during crew-based flights, causing less connection losses.
DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Operating drone simultaneously with STAR-9. • One time during flight, STAR-9 was in the area and the drone would not regain altitude after STAR-9 left the area. Drone had to land in a parking lot. • How to resolve this drawback • Flight issues pertaining to STAR-9 and other manned aircraft. • Skydio has been very responsive with issues that arose during trial period. • Software updates were released quickly and appeared to solve issues. • Pilot situational awareness of other aircraft and providing right of way to those aircraft. • Could not replicate the issue after Skydio was informed of issue. 25 26
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14 DRAWBACKS OF DFR PROGRAM
• Technology is rapidly changing. • New drones are being manufactured that have longer battery life and longer flight times. • How to resolve this issue. • Skydio has a built-in option with their program that refreshes the fleet 2 years into the program. This will be beneficial for keeping up with technology. • New drones haven’t gone through the same field testing and real-world scenarios like Skydio has with their drone program. • Have to think like computers and vehicles. The moment you walk out of the store and/or drive off the lot, the item you purchased is already outdated.
CONCLUSIONS
• Skydio DFR program is going to be a game changer in our responses to critical calls for service as well as routine calls with the ability to give real time information from a deputy who knows what to look for. • Being first on scene will be beneficial in relaying any possible threats and unusual circumstances to responding units. • Overall, the impressions of the pilots that used the program were positive and they are all looking forward to the program going live. • Station command staff was impressed with the ability to view the footage in real time using the DFR link (QR Code).
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15 MY OPINION OF THE SKYDIO DFR PROGRAM?
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