SAN ANTONIO – A new piece of hardware is taking off for the first time with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
On Wednesday, Texas DPS announced the rollout of a new, first-of-its-kind drone detection system, dubbed the Airborne Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ACUS), to detect unmanned aircraft that may pose a potential threat to public safety or emergency operations.
“As drone use continues to evolve and expand across the country, so does the potential for these devices to be misused in ways that threaten public safety and law enforcement operations,” said Chief Pilot of DPS’ Aircraft Operations Division Stacy Holland. “Integrating ACUS into our aviation fleet gives us the ability to quickly detect, identify, and avoid hostile or unauthorized drones — protecting our aircrews, ground personnel, and the communities we serve.”
Making a significant leap in aerial safety, the tech is intended to help keep crews safe from stray drones operating near response areas, and has now been installed in one DPS helicopter.
DPS Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs) underwent specialized training to operate the technology; they will be responsible for monitoring and interpreting the real-time data while in flight.
DPS says that the technology is so advanced that it will provide the precise geolocation of the drone and its operator, providing pilots and officers on the round with critical information.