The experiment with fully autonomous launch is being tested on real challenges.
The town of Moree in the Australian outback may seem like a quiet place, but it's currently testing a new model of police work. Two drones are docked on the roof of the local police station. When an alarm is triggered, the drones take off in minutes. What's most unusual is that the flights aren't controlled by local officers: certified pilots are at the controls almost 600 kilometers away, in Sydney.
The project, dubbed PolAir-rural, has launched a six-month trial by New South Wales Police to understand how remote air support works across vast rural distances. Moree is a suitable location for this test, not coincidentally. The town has a population of approximately 7,100, and local authorities have been dealing with high rates of theft, carjacking, and break-ins for years.
The reliance on drones was a response to growing public frustration and a simple fact: the classic aerial support model often runs into geographic limitations. Specialized units are based in Sydney, and travel and preparation take time. Local resources are insufficient, and the response is protracted.
By January 2026, an autonomous module was installed on the roof of the Moree site. The system is designed to operate without on-site personnel. The drone takes off, completes its mission, returns, lands, and recharges. Pilots operate from a control center in Bankstown, monitor live footage from the aircraft, and transmit the video feed not only to the control room but also to patrols on the ground. New South Wales Police calls the program the first example in Australia of fully remote flights without a pilot at the launch site. DJI Matrice 4-TD platforms with high-resolution cameras, which provide stable images and allow simultaneous broadcasting to multiple locations, are being used for testing.
Drone deployments aren't reserved for every call, but for critical situations where an overhead view changes tactics. During a break-in or search for suspects, the drone is deployed almost immediately to obtain a general picture and direction of travel. A particular benefit has been demonstrated during carjackings: overhead surveillance helps maintain vehicle surveillance and reduces the need for dangerous high-speed chases that pose a risk to officers and bystanders.
According to police, drones have already helped recover several stolen vehicles. In one case, a criminal stole a car from a motel and drove away in the owner's SUV. The car was later found abandoned near a river after surveillance narrowed the search area. In another case, after two cars were stolen from an elderly couple, aerial support helped recover both vehicles and apprehend the perpetrators.
Drones have proven useful for more than just crime-fighting. They've been deployed during local fires to quickly spot outbreaks and transmit warnings to fire crews. Police have also used aerial video during assaults and street conflicts, when immediate situational assessment is crucial.
The town of Moree in the Australian outback may seem like a quiet place, but it's currently testing a new model of police work. Two drones are docked on the roof of the local police station. When an alarm is triggered, the drones take off in minutes. What's most unusual is that the flights aren't controlled by local officers: certified pilots are at the controls almost 600 kilometers away, in Sydney.
The project, dubbed PolAir-rural, has launched a six-month trial by New South Wales Police to understand how remote air support works across vast rural distances. Moree is a suitable location for this test, not coincidentally. The town has a population of approximately 7,100, and local authorities have been dealing with high rates of theft, carjacking, and break-ins for years.
The reliance on drones was a response to growing public frustration and a simple fact: the classic aerial support model often runs into geographic limitations. Specialized units are based in Sydney, and travel and preparation take time. Local resources are insufficient, and the response is protracted.
By January 2026, an autonomous module was installed on the roof of the Moree site. The system is designed to operate without on-site personnel. The drone takes off, completes its mission, returns, lands, and recharges. Pilots operate from a control center in Bankstown, monitor live footage from the aircraft, and transmit the video feed not only to the control room but also to patrols on the ground. New South Wales Police calls the program the first example in Australia of fully remote flights without a pilot at the launch site. DJI Matrice 4-TD platforms with high-resolution cameras, which provide stable images and allow simultaneous broadcasting to multiple locations, are being used for testing.
Drone deployments aren't reserved for every call, but for critical situations where an overhead view changes tactics. During a break-in or search for suspects, the drone is deployed almost immediately to obtain a general picture and direction of travel. A particular benefit has been demonstrated during carjackings: overhead surveillance helps maintain vehicle surveillance and reduces the need for dangerous high-speed chases that pose a risk to officers and bystanders.
According to police, drones have already helped recover several stolen vehicles. In one case, a criminal stole a car from a motel and drove away in the owner's SUV. The car was later found abandoned near a river after surveillance narrowed the search area. In another case, after two cars were stolen from an elderly couple, aerial support helped recover both vehicles and apprehend the perpetrators.
Drones have proven useful for more than just crime-fighting. They've been deployed during local fires to quickly spot outbreaks and transmit warnings to fire crews. Police have also used aerial video during assaults and street conflicts, when immediate situational assessment is crucial.
