Skydio
Coverage of Skydio in the Nexus archive.
- In Minneapolis’ search for crime deterrents, drones fly into a wall
Minneapolis City Council voted 6-6 to reject a 'Drones as First Responders' pilot program, citing concerns over Skydio drones' use by Israel in the Israel-Hamas war. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw argued the program could enhance public safety, while activists emphasized privacy risks. The debate highlights tensions between technological solutions for crime and ethical concerns.
- Minneapolis City Council rejects drones-as-first-responder pilot, citing ties to Israel, ICE
The Minneapolis City Council rejected a drones-as-first-responder pilot program after Council Vice President Jamal Osman switched his vote, citing Skydio's ties to Israel's military and ICE. The 75-day trial aimed to deploy drones for emergency response but failed on a 6-6 tie, with supporters arguing ethical concerns outweighed potential public safety benefits.
- Minneapolis police drone debate draws packed crowds concerned about privacy
Minneapolis residents opposed a proposed police drone program at a City Hall meeting, citing privacy concerns and distrust in law enforcement's use of the technology. The pilot program, set to begin in July, aims to use Skydio drones for faster 911 response times in the Fourth Precinct but faces criticism over potential surveillance and ties to military-grade tech.
- Minneapolis drone first responder program faces community pushback
Minneapolis leaders are considering a 75-day pilot program to deploy police drones for 911 calls on the north side, facing community pushback during a public hearing. The Minneapolis Police Department, partnering with Skydio Inc., aims to use drones for real-time situational awareness, emphasizing they are not a replacement for officers but a tool to improve response efficiency and safety.
- Greer heads to Silicon Valley to promote onshoring
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer visits Silicon Valley manufacturing facilities to promote the Trump administration’s onshoring efforts. He will tour Tesla, NextFlex, Skydio, and Applied Materials, while Skydio announced a $3.5 billion investment to expand US drone production, creating 3,000 jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 7,000 manufacturing jobs added in May, though total employment remains below the previous year’s level.
- California drone maker to spend billions of dollars as it expands manufacturing in the state
Skydio, a San Mateo-based company, will invest $3.5 billion over five years to expand manufacturing of domestic defense technology in California.
- LAPD Deployed Drones to Spy on No Kings Protest
The Los Angeles Police Department's 'Drone as First Responder' program, designed for emergency response, was used to surveil the No Kings and ICE Out protests. Flight data reveals 31 and 32 drone deployments at these events, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties despite LAPD claims of limited surveillance scope.