Florida’s New Police Vehicle Doesn’t Need Roads

Forget supercars with flashing lights. Florida Polytechnic University has something much stranger in mind for police work: a flying machine with eight propellers, one seat, and no need for a runway. Called the Jetson One, this electric aircraft has joined the university’s fleet for $148,000, although it still needs regulatory approval before officers can use it on patrol.

The aircraft has been given the nickname Astro, after the dog from The Jetsons. It looks more like a giant drone than a conventional police vehicle, but it has a practical purpose. 

Officers hope to use it to search for missing people, reach isolated locations, and get a first responder to places where a regular patrol car can’t go. The university also plans to use the aircraft for research, giving students a chance to work with technology that could shape the future of aviation.

Jetson, the California-based company behind the One, reportedly moved the university ahead of other customers, with the waiting list now stretching to around three years. CEO Stéphan D’haene says the project is exactly the kind of real-world application the company wants to explore. Florida Poly already operates drones, but Astro offers one important advantage: it can carry an officer, not just a camera.

There are limits to what this flying patrol vehicle can do. The Jetson One weighs about 190 pounds (86 kg), has a top speed of 63 mph (102 km/h) and can stay airborne for around 20 minutes. That’s enough for short trips, but the bigger challenge is getting permission to use it for police work.

The FAA’s ultralight rules generally cover recreational flying, not law enforcement, and restrict flights over congested areas and at night. Florida Poly says it is close to securing the approval it needs.

For now, Astro is waiting on the ground rather than chasing suspects through the sky. Police chief Aaron Murray argues that equipment once seen as little more than a hobby can eventually become valuable in law enforcement, pointing to bicycles, motorcycles, and drones. With FAA approval, Astro could soon become a new way for police to get around.