How First Responders Utilize Advanced Technology

Will AI Save Human Lives? As we continue to debate whether artificial intelligence will replace human jobs, there's a more profound question we should be asking: How can AI save human lives—particularly those who risk their lives to save others? First responders—our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and disaster relief workers—face life-threatening dangers daily: 🔥 Firefighters enter burning buildings, face structural collapses, and breathe toxic smoke. 🚓 Police officers confront armed suspects, navigate high-speed pursuits, and enter unstable situations. 🚑 Paramedics work in hazardous environments, from highway accident scenes to unstable structures. 🌪️ Disaster response teams venture into collapsed buildings, flood zones, and areas with chemical or radiation hazards. While AI cannot—and should not—replace these heroes, it can serve as their shield and extended capabilities: • Robotic scouts can enter burning buildings first, mapping structural integrity and locating victims before human firefighters risk entry. • AI-powered drones can assess disaster zones, create 3D maps of affected areas, and locate survivors—all before human responders set foot in dangerous terrain. • Remote-controlled robots can defuse bombs, handle hazardous materials, and enter contaminated zones without risking human lives. • Predictive AI systems can forecast fire spread patterns, structural collapse risks, and flood progression—giving responders crucial decision-making information. • Autonomous vehicles can deliver supplies or extract victims from dangerous areas that would be too risky for human drivers. What makes these technologies revolutionary isn't that they replace human responders—it's that they transform how humans can respond. The human elements of judgment, adaptability, emotional support, and complex decision-making remain irreplaceable. The question isn't whether machines will take human jobs, but rather: How can we use these technologies to ensure more first responders go home to their families each night? We're already seeing promising developments: - Boston Dynamics Spot robots helping assess hazardous situations - Firefighting robots that can spray water in environments too hot for humans - AI systems that predict wildfire spread with remarkable accuracy - Autonomous underwater vehicles for dangerous water rescues The future of emergency response isn't humans OR AI—it's humans AND AI, working together to save more lives while risking fewer. #ArtificialIntelligence #FirstResponders #EmergencyServices #PublicSafety #RoboticAssistance #AIForGood #HumanAICollaboration #TechnologyForGood

Pay attention. One device update can change your industry. Meta rolled out live translation to the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Pairs of these should be in so many places. 🔹 Healthcare: These should be in every ER. In a medical setting, clear and immediate communication between healthcare professionals and patients is critical, especially when language differences exist. Smart glasses offering live translation can enable doctors and nurses to understand patient symptoms, concerns, and medical history in real-time, regardless of the language spoken. This can lead to more accurate diagnoses, better patient care, and reduced risk of miscommunication in urgent situations. Furthermore, access to medical information or procedures via voice interaction with an AI, hands-free, could support practitioners during examinations or surgeries. 🔹 Education and Language Learning: For language students, these smart glasses could serve as an immersive and practical tool. Engaging in real-time conversations with native speakers, with the glasses providing discreet translation assistance, can significantly accelerate language acquisition and build confidence. In classrooms, teachers could more easily communicate with students who are English language learners, and students could access explanations or information from an AI tutor through voice commands while working on tasks. 🔹 Emergency and Response: In high-stress, time-sensitive emergency situations, clear communication and rapid access to information are paramount. First responders, paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers often encounter individuals who speak different languages, creating critical communication barriers. Smart glasses with live translation can instantly bridge these gaps, allowing emergency personnel to understand victims, witnesses, or affected individuals regardless of language, leading to faster assessments and more effective aid. Furthermore, the hands-free, voice-activated AI can provide crucial support - imagine a paramedic verbally asking for a patient's known allergies or medical history while simultaneously providing care, or a firefighter receiving hands-free navigation or building blueprints via voice command. The ability to communicate seamlessly and access vital data purely through spoken interaction can dramatically improve response times, coordination, and the overall effectiveness to not only improve, but ultimately save lives.

Last month, a drone from Skyfire | AI was credited with saving a police officer’s life after a dramatic 2 a.m. traffic stop. Many statistics show that AI impacts billions of lives, but sometimes a story still hits me emotionally. Let me share what happened. Skyfire AI, an AI Fund portfolio company led by CEO Don Mathis, operates a public safety program in which drones function as first responders to 911 calls. Particularly when a police department is personnel-constrained, drones can save officers’ time while enhancing their situational awareness. For example, many burglar alarms are false alarms, maybe set off by moisture or an animal. Rather than sending a patrol officer to drive over to discover this, a drone can get there faster and determine if an officer is required at all. If the alarm is real, the drone can help officers understand the situation, the locations of any perpetrators, and how best to respond. In January, a Skyfire AI drone was returning to base after responding to a false alarm when the police dispatcher asked us to reroute it to help locate a patrol officer. The officer had radioed a few minutes earlier that he had pulled over a suspicious vehicle and had not been heard from since. The officer had stopped where two major highways intersect in a complex cloverleaf, and dispatch was unsure exactly where they were located. From the air, the drone rapidly located the officer and the driver of the vehicle he had pulled over, who it turned out had escaped from a local detention facility. Neither would have been visible from the road — they were fighting in a drainage ditch below the highway. Because of the complexity of the cloverleaf’s geometry, the watch officer (who coordinates police activities for the shift) later estimated it would have taken 5-7 minutes for an officer in a patrol car to find them. From the aerial footage, it appeared that the officer still had his radio, but was losing the fight and unable to reach it to call for help. Further, it looked like the assailant might gain control of his service weapon and use it against him. This was a dire and dangerous situation. Fortunately, because the drone had pinpointed the location of the officer and his assailant, dispatch was able to direct additional units to assist. The first arrived not in 5-7 minutes but in 45 seconds. Four more units arrived within minutes. The officers were able to take control of the situation and apprehend the driver, resulting in an arrest and, more important, a safe outcome for the officer. Subsequently, the watch officer said we’d probably saved the officer’s life. [Reach length limit; full text: https://lnkd.in/g3QdKp5Q ]

10 real-world lessons on public safety drones and tech from Sergeant Zach Finfrock on the Smart FireFighting Podcast 🚔 If the rig isn’t practical, the drone won’t fly Zach didn’t build a tech museum. He built a patrol-ready drone vehicle that works on every shift. It handles traffic stops, call responses, and drone launches without missing a beat. That’s how it should be. 🚁 Not replacing helicopters, just reducing wait times Before drones, air support meant maybe getting a chopper if one was free. Now Zach can launch in under a minute and get eyes on a scene before backup even arrives. 🔫 It’s not a toy. It’s another tool on the belt Most tools don’t get used every day. Doesn’t mean they’re optional. The same goes for drones. When you need it, you need it. Period. 📐 Flying a drone means juggling three rulebooks FAA regulations, state laws, and department policy…all at once. On top of the actual emergency unfolding in front of you. It’s not just flying. It’s operating with full accountability. 🗺️ Shared maps > shared radio chatter Drone Flight Hub lets departments drop pins, draw search zones, and stream live feeds. Everyone sees what’s happening without stepping on each other. It makes coordination feel like second nature. 👮♀️ Start with one drone and two solid pilots You don’t need a fleet. You need people who know how to fly and remain calm under pressure. Once the program proves itself, scaling is easy. Starting sloppily is how it dies. 🤔 Drones don’t solve calls. They make them safer Overwatch, recon, real-time support. That’s where drones shine. Not replacing responders, just giving them better tools to make better decisions. 🚨 Real-time crime isn’t a theory. It’s already happening Live drone feeds. Shared platforms. LPRs. Zach and his neighbors are already linking up and supporting each other in real time. It’s not hype. It’s just smart operations. 🔭 AI has potential. But trust comes first Zach isn’t against AI. He’s for smart use. The community has to know that tech helps them, not watches them. Use it well or don’t use it at all. 🙃 If it ain’t broke, cool. But don’t ignore what’s better Zach used to stick with what worked. Now he pushes to try what might work better. That mindset shift matters. Comfort doesn’t move the mission forward. What hit hardest for you? Full podcast episode here: Apple: https://lnkd.in/gKGXkwSh Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gRaSkYia #SmartFirstResponder #SmartFirefighting #DroneOps #PublicSafetyTech #LawEnforcementTools #DFR #RealTimeCrime #FirstResponderTech

Because #IACP will be about Drone as #FirstReaponder aka #DFR, here are some insights: - #publicsafety are some of the largest #enterprise customers within the #industry. - UAS Nexus collective have been working on DFR since 2017, and have worked with or advised *every* DFR #OEM on the market (except Skydio), so we have a unique perspective. - DFR is still *early* with no clear #hardware winner outside of DJI M300, where over 80% of all DFR missions are done - this includes Cape by Motorola Solutions, DroneSense, Inc., Axon Air, and Aerodome. Yea, that’s right - the overwhelming majority of DFR solutions are done by DJI, and built for it. This is still up for grabs, as current ConOps aren’t aligned with the #technical #challenges all companies face regarding #platforms and ports. - ‘DFR 2.0’ is essentially #software defined at this point, it’s a battle of #integration of existing tools (like CAD) and #UX (the drone is completely irrelevant and is abstracted from the entire process). It still suffers the ‘chunkiness’ problem of most #uas software suites, folks building the leaner and #modular solutions will win. - It’s all about #payloads and the #UI, remember: the drone is just a flying camera. - As of today, Skydio has the highest TRL of any #NDAA #automated solution but the Dock is delayed until 2025, and it took them A YEAR AFTER LAUNCHING X10 TO UNVEIL IT. FWIW, during that timeframe, Aerodome built and sold their company to Flock Safety. A lot can and will change in the next 12 months….. - #regulatory challenges abound regarding #BVLOS (Dedrone by Axon and AVSS | Drone Parachute Recovery Systems & Guided Delivery Systems are ahead of the pack…). #parachutes are going to be critical and are currently underutilized. #waivers will be #automated. - more #drone #OEM #consolidation is happening. 🤫 📸: circa 2017/18, early #prototype of a vertically integrated #VTOL solution for DFR. It later shifted into a platform agnostic solution, so we know how hard of a problem Hextronics is trying to solve with #mechatronics.

𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐏 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The integration of drones as first responders (#DFR), combined with cutting-edge Internet Protocol (IP) video technology, marks a new era in #publicsafety. This LiveU approach empowers #lawenforcement and #emergencyservices with real-time #situationalawareness, faster response times, and enhanced officer and public safety. - DFR: A Strategic Advantage By deploying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ahead of ground teams—especially during large-scale events or active incidents—agencies gain critical visual intelligence before arriving on scene. A key milestone is enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing drones to cover greater distances and deliver what can be called “quantum situational awareness.” LiveU's flagship IP bonded field encoder for Public Safety and #tactical teams is ready to go - simply plug in your video source (drone, security #camera, or crewed/uncrewed vehicle/ HH camera etc), and start transmitting real-time, secure and reliable video into your selected destination - anywhere at anytime Benefits include: - Rapid location of suspects or missing persons - Advanced scene assessment before human arrival - Reduced risk to officers - Smarter allocation of resources Enhancing Surveillance with LiveU IP Video & LiveU Technology is significantly more effective when monitored in real time. According to the UK College of Policing, actively monitored systems are 15% more effective at reducing crime compared to passive systems. By leveraging LiveU's secure IP video transmission platform: - Real-time crime centers and dispatch units gain precise, high-quality video streams - Field personnel receive live intelligence with low-latency and high-reliability, even in challenging environments. Situational awareness becomes immediate and actionable. Key Enablers for Successful Integration To fully realize the benefits of DFR and IP video streaming, agencies must: - Educate the Public: Build trust through transparency and responsible data use - Advocate for Policy Reform: Enable legal pathways for BVLOS and IP-based surveillance - Invest in #Training: Equip personnel to operate and interpret data while respecting privacy The Road Ahead Over the next decade, cities are expected to deploy drone “nests” on rooftops of fire stations and public buildings, creating a responsive, city-wide aerial network. But success will depend on forward-thinking leadership that embraces innovation, invests in emerging technologies like AI and quantum analytics, and fosters a culture of adaptability. - Visionary public safety leaders must stay several steps ahead—not just one—to safeguard communities in a fast-changing world. CBRNE & CT ATLANTIC BRIDGE (CAB) FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey #uas #drones #firtresponder #cbrn #cbrne

“Where the Streets Have No Name…” Not every #DFR deployment is the same—and not every DFR solution is created equal. Watching the video from a recent deployment got me a little nostalgic, so here’s a quick history lesson on how far Drone as a First Responder has come. It all started with Motorola Solutions Cape, the lone player in the space for a while—until Paladin Drones came in and brought some much-needed innovation with a cellular approach. As interest in DFR grew across the country, DroneSense, Inc. entered the chat with promises of their own cellular platform… which never quite took off. Then came Aerodome DFR, another radio-based solution that seemed to appear out of nowhere, only to shake things up even more by getting acquired by Flock Safety. And just when things couldn’t get more interesting, Skydio and BRINC Drones decided to jump in. These two, better known for their lobbying efforts against DJI (the very platform nearly all DFR providers rely on), launched their own solutions. Meanwhile, Axon stepped away from providing public safety with DJI platforms altogether and partnered with Skydio to help them muscle their way into agencies. Despite the noise, the value of DFR speaks for itself. The real trailblazers—the end users—are the ones driving this tech forward, day after day, call after call. Now to the fun part… We recently had a call for a suspicious person on the rooftop of a liquor store. Our DFR unit was airborne within seconds. Pilots quickly spotted the individual—who, for a moment, looked like he was staging a rooftop reenactment of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” video (filmed, coincidentally, on another liquor store rooftop back in ’87). Unfortunately, this wasn’t a music video shoot. He was trespassing and creating a potential safety hazard. Thanks to rapid deployment and tactical overwatch, officers were able to respond safely and de-escalate the situation—proving once again how powerful this technology is when used right. DFR isn’t just evolving. It’s defining the future of public safety. #Police #LawEnforcement #PublicSafety #DronesForGood #TechForGood #Drones #InnovationNotLegislation #FirstResponders Law Enforcement Today

There’s a difference between reacting and responding. Most #emergencysystems? They react. Flash some lights, set off a siren, pray someone knows what to do next. But what if the system could respond, not in theory, but in real-time, like a seasoned Marine reading the chaos, moving people not just away from danger but toward safety? That’s exactly what Ernest Williams built with Go To Green. This isn’t a tech demo wrapped in tech speak. It’s a patented, combat-informed, #sensor driven #evacuationsystem that doesn’t wait for you to figure out your exits. It shows you the way out, with green lights that lead to life and red ones that scream danger. And if you're #lawenforcement? It guides you straight to the threat, with flashing reds and blues lighting the path like a mission briefing you can walk through. Williams, a decorated Marine and now founder and CEO of Go To Green, took lessons from battlefields and baked them into tech that schools, cities, and agencies should have had a decade ago. #Realsensors detect gunfire, outdoors and in. Visual cues kick in instantly. Cameras activate and feed into #firstrespondersystems. There’s no “wait and assess.” There’s only move. Fast. Smart. Safe. This week, Go To Green secured a new investment round backed by O'Leary Ventures, yes, that Kevin O'Leary, and Acorn Capital Management, who didn’t just bring cash, they brought strategic heat. And it wasn’t for some flashy deck or hype pitch. It was earned. By installing over 1,050 sensors across Amarillo ISD, lighting up 57 schools, and catching the eye of Pilot Point ISD, who just signed on to outfit their campuses and stadiums. You don’t get that kind of traction if your product’s still “in beta.” You get it when what you’ve built answers a question no one else has solved: How do we make #emergencyresponse as clear, fast, and universal as a traffic light? Go To Green is headquartered in Van Alstyne, Texas, because apparently you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley to save lives with code and circuitry. They’re now scaling nationwide, and #schools are just the start. Next stop? #Militarybases, #federalbuildings, #eventvenues. Anywhere a crowd could panic is somewhere Go To Green can lead people out. There’s no valuation posted. No fluff metrics. Just a straight-up mission: guide people out of chaos and give first responders the intel edge. That’s not a tagline. That’s Marine logic with real-world stakes. #Startups #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #GovTech #Security #Infrastructure #EmergencyResponse #Technology #Innovation #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem

The traditional approach to accident scene documentation has long been bottlenecked by specialist requirements. For decades, the creation of court-admissible diagrams required accident reconstructionists with specialized training in measurement techniques and complex CAD-based software. This dependency created significant bottlenecks when the specialist is unavailable — extended road closure times, delayed reports, and inconsistent documentation to name a few. How are we changing this paradigm? By capturing accident scenes through drone or cell phone footage, departments can now generate precise 3D models with integrated measurement capabilities in minutes rather than hours. The technology automatically produces 2D ortho maps and simplified sketch views that meet evidentiary standards for court proceedings. Our technology standardizes what was previously a specialist function. Any operator can now capture comprehensive scene data that automatically generates scaled, accurate documentation. The resulting workflow eliminates the measurement and diagramming bottlenecks that have historically delayed accident reporting and investigation processes. And the implications extend beyond efficiency gains. Reduced road closure times enhance public safety by minimizing secondary collision risks. Officer safety improves through decreased exposure to traffic hazards. Documentation quality becomes standardized across departments rather than varying with individual specialist skills. Over 1,000 public safety agencies have implemented this approach, recognizing how technology can enhance documentation quality while dramatically reducing the resource burden of accident scene processing. The evolution towards SkyeBrowse means less traffic, more productivity, and ultimately, cost savings for the city as a whole. As departments continue facing staffing challenges and increasing service demands, technological solutions that maintain quality while reducing specialist dependencies will become increasingly essential to effective operations. #PublicSafety #AccidentDocumentation #InvestigativeTechnology #LawEnforcement #CourtAdmissible

Instead of just using AI to write LinkedIn posts, we can use it to help our public safety community save lives. For example, out of 240M calls 911 centers receive annually, ~68% are 'non-emergency' calls. Sounds like the perfect job for AI, doesn't it? Here's some context first… Every year, 911 centers in the US receive ~240M calls. The number of calls has been relatively stable in the last few years, but the number of 'non-emergency' calls - specifically those triggered by security devices is increasing A LOT. For example, Frost & Sullivan estimates that by 2027, 70% of all 911 calls will be triggered by a device, not a 911 call from a human. These 'non-emergency' calls can be: - Security alarm systems (98% of which are false) - People reporting a deer eating their garden - Someone asking for general directions - Person reporting a wallet lost at the mall - Reporting a power outage As the name suggests, these calls are not emergencies and don't require 911 attention. Instead, they waste the time & attention of 911 operators because they cannot decide what IS and what ISN'T a true emergency until they answer the call. If you ask them, 911 operators will tell you that handling these emergencies stretches them thin, leaving less time & attention for REAL emergencies. They may even tell you about a time when first responders were delayed from reacting to a real emergency … ... Because, by law, they were required to answer a non-emergency call first. Now, when you start looking for solutions, you'll most likely ask: - Reduce the # of non-emergency calls - Hire more 911 operators This is almost impossible because 1) the # of non-emergency calls will only go up, and 2) 911 is facing a staffing crisis as hiring is difficult. So, in the last year, RapidSOS realized that deploying AI is the alternative solution, and that's why we've built HARMONY. What it does is simple: 1️⃣ HARMONY answers calls to your non-emergency line. 2️⃣ HARMONY gathers the necessary information by asking questions based on the 911 center's configuration and guidance. 3️⃣ The call is seamlessly transferred to a telecommunicator if escalation is needed (based on local procedures). 4️⃣ Otherwise, HARMONY processes the call from start to finish: capturing the relevant details (where telecommunicators can monitor in real-time) and can even automatically create the Request for Service in CAD. This isn't a hypothetical. We're deploying HARMONY in 911 centers across the country today. So, yes, AI SHOULD AND IS solving big problems, not just to write LinkedIn posts. PS. No AI was not used to write this LinkedIn post :)