AeroVironment's Qube quadcopter is shown on display.
The Grand Forks, N.D., Sheriff's Department has become the first U.S. law enforcement agency granted Federal Aviation Administration authorization to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) throughout its jurisdiction at night.
The Grand Forks agency collaborates with the University of North Dakota school of aerospace sciences to operate its UASs and uses the AeroVironment Qube and Draganfly Innovations' Draganflyer small rotary-wing aircraft. It has deployed its UAS unit nine times since May 2013 on incidents ranging from documenting serious traffic accidents to searching for wanted suspects.
Image courtesy of AIN Online.
