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Miami-Dade Tests Drone-Launching Self-Driving Police Car in Yearlong Pilot

The trial opens as a community outreach test sponsored by a nonprofit that says taxpayers will not be billed.

Overview

  • The Police Unmanned Ground vehicle pairs Perrone Robotics’ autonomous driving with AI analytics, 360-degree cameras, thermal imaging, license plate recognition, and an onboard drone it can deploy.
  • Officials say the initial phase keeps a deputy in the front seat and limits operations to demos through the Community Affairs Bureau, with no highway patrols or police chases during the 12 months.
  • Miami-Dade and Policing Lab describe the pilot as an outcomes study focused on response times, deterrence, officer safety, and public trust before any decision on wider use.
  • Policing Lab asserts no additional cost to local taxpayers during the pilot, while a company representative cited an estimated production price of roughly $150,000 to $200,000 per vehicle if scaled.
  • Recent coverage highlights mounting questions about surveillance reach, data use and access, jurisdiction, and potential long-term subscription or support costs.