Flock's fastest-growing business is 60 mph police drones that can read license plates from the sky

Flock, a company known for its roadside license plate scanning cameras installed in over 6,000 US communities, is now focusing on a new and rapidly growing business segment: its Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology. This cutting-edge drone system, capable of reading license plates from the sky, is being deployed to emergency scenes before police officers arrive.

Flock's DFR technology has already secured more than 200 customers, including police departments and private companies, and is ramping up production of its US-built drones, which will be manufactured in Georgia. The drones operate from rooftop docks at police precincts or fire departments, and can reach speeds of 60 mph and fly at a height of 400 feet.

Upon receiving a 911 call, the drones swiftly arrive on the scene, often in under a minute, and can identify objects with a 40x optical zoom. In one notable incident, a drone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area responded to a 911 call about a suspicious object, only to reveal that the object was merely a lighter, potentially de-escalating a dangerous situation.

Flock touts the DFR system as being able to resolve 20% of calls without deploying an officer, effectively preventing unnecessary police responses. However, the rapid adoption of this technology has raised significant concerns. Over 1,000 public safety agencies have obtained FAA waivers to operate drones without explicit authorization, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warns that these drones can monitor individuals through windows, backyards, and rooftops without consent.

Flock's DFR system comes equipped with license plate reading capabilities, enabling the drones to function as flying versions of the company's controversial roadside cameras. The drones only activate for calls for service, and every flight is logged, auditable, and displayed on a public-facing transparency dashboard. However, Flock's CEO acknowledges that oversight remains limited due to a lack of state and federal regulation, specifically outside of air safety guidelines.