Vancouver Police Department Launches Canada's First Dock-Based Drone as First Responder Program Powered by Skydio
VPD deploys Skydio Docks and X10 drones on Canada's sovereign cloud infrastructure ahead of FIFA World Cup
Skydio is proud to support the Vancouver Police Department as it announces the first Dock-based Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in Canada powered by Skydio. Using Skydio X10 drones, Skydio Docks, and the DFR Command platform, the program gives Vancouver PD the ability to get eyes on scene before officers arrive, with infrastructure hosted on Skydio’s Canadian cloud instance to meet Canadian data sovereignty requirements.
When a call comes in, seconds matter. A Skydio drone that reaches the scene first can tell officers what they're approaching: whether a situation is escalating, where people are located, what the safest approach looks like, leading to safer outcomes for everyone on the ground.
Vancouver PD's program deploys multiple Skydio Docks positioned across the city, each housing a Skydio X10 drone that can launch instantly at the direction of the pilot in command when emergency calls come in to dispatch. Docks connect and communicate through Skydio's DFR Command platform, giving operators centralized visibility and control from a remote operations center. The entire system runs on Skydio's Canadian cloud infrastructure, a configuration built to meet Canadian sovereignty requirements for law enforcement data.
The program also comes at an important moment for the city. As Vancouver prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, Vancouver PD plans to use this technology to help keep attendees safe during one of the largest global sporting events in the world. Skydio Docks and drones will provide real-time aerial visibility around event areas and enable faster assessment when incidents emerge.
“DFR is proving to be a game changer for public safety due to its unparalleled ability to rapidly deliver real-time situational awareness to first responders,” said Callan Carpenter, Skydio chief revenue officer. “Vancouver PD is at the forefront of DFR deployment within Canada. We are proud that they chose Skydio as their provider for the forthcoming FIFA games and beyond that for their everyday public safety needs.”
Dock-based DFR is still early in Canada. The agencies adopting it now are shaping the model others will follow. The Vancouver Police Department is stepping into that leadership role. Skydio, in partnership with Axon, is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important next step in public safety.
