LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Polytechnic University has unveiled a piloted electric aircraft for its police department, with plans to use it for campus patrols and emergency response once federal approval is secured.
The university says its police department is the first law enforcement agency in the nation to integrate a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, into its operations.
Named Astro, the Jetson ONE aircraft could help officers reach isolated areas, survey campus property and deliver emergency supplies. The university said it is in the final stages of seeking Federal Aviation Administration approval to use the vehicle.
A new tool for emergency response
University Police Chief Aaron Murray said the aircraft could support recovery efforts after storms and help officers access areas that traditional patrol vehicles cannot easily reach.
The department also plans to work with other law enforcement agencies in the region on potential public safety uses.
“Advanced air mobility is a technology on the rise, and we can either choose to be proactive or reactive as it develops,” Murray said.
Astro’s name references both science and the dog from “The Jetsons.”
Students to study flight technology
The aircraft will also serve as a research and learning tool for students and faculty, according to the university.
Florida Poly launched an aerospace engineering degree program this fall. Students and faculty are coordinating plans to use operational data from Astro for research and senior design projects.
“At Florida Poly, we want our students working with emerging technologies before they become commonplace,” Provost Brad Thiessen said.
The aircraft joins other technology initiatives at the university, including a police drone unit and a student-powered cybersecurity operations center.
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