Flock Aerodome Software Updates: Fall 2025

Powerful New Advancements for DFR

The day after unveiling the all-new Flock Alpha drone system, we’re announcing four major software updates for Flock DFR customers. These upgrades are developed directly from agency feedback and designed to provide DFR operators with new, powerful capabilities—enabling them to accomplish more with fewer resources while enhancing community safety.

As Rahul Sidhu, our VP of Aviation, explains in the video below, these new capabilities, made possible by Flock Aerodome software, make it easier than ever for agencies to launch drones, pursue subjects, and scale operations.

‍Mobile Ops – DFR on the Go

Agencies have long told us: “I love the idea of a 24/7 drone station, but I can’t staff a DFR pilot seat around the clock.”

With Mobile Ops, part of the all-new Flock Aerodome App, operators – including patrol officers in the field – can now launch and fly a full DFR mission directly from their iPhone or Android device.

• Clear airspace, select a drone station, and launch—all from your phone.
• Dispatch drones automatically to calls with one tap.
• Use zoom and thermal imaging to assess the scene.
• Get automated aircraft alerts and airspace deconfliction for safety.
• Return home with a click and watch the drone land in its dock.

Why it matters

DFR programs are most effective when drones can be launched quickly and reliably, but not every agency can staff the DFR pilot’s chair around the clock. Mobile Ops levels the playing field by ensuring that even during low-staff hours—like overnight shifts or weekends—officers can still launch and manage missions smoothly.

Imagine a small agency with only a few officers on duty at 3 a.m. A burglary alarm goes off. Instead of waiting for backup or leaving a beat uncovered, one officer can quickly launch a drone from their phone, check the scene, and confirm whether it’s a false alarm or an active break-in. That’s faster response, better intelligence, and safer policing—all without needing a staffed RTCC.

No desk, no delays—Mobile Ops makes truly mobile DFR a reality.

Vehicle Follow – Smarter, Easier Pursuits

One of the hardest tasks for any DFR operator is tracking a suspect vehicle—especially while also relaying critical intelligence to officers in the field.

Flock Aerodome Vehicle Follow solves this challenge. With a single click, the drone and camera will autonomously follow a vehicle, matching its speed and direction.

• Autonomously trail behind vehicles for clear license plate views.
• Predict paths when vehicles go behind buildings or trees.
• Free the operator to zoom in, collect evidence, and communicate updates.
• Pair with Inflight LPR for instant hotlist checks.

Why it matters

Vehicle pursuits are inherently dangerous for both officers and the public. Aerial coverage is one of the most effective tools for minimizing risk, but manually following a fast-moving vehicle while gathering actionable information can be overwhelming, even for highly trained pilots. Vehicle Follow removes that burden, making vehicle monitoring both safer and more accurate.

Consider an Amber Alert scenario. A drone spots a vehicle matching the alert description and begins following it through traffic. With Vehicle Follow, the drone autonomously keeps up, ensuring a steady visual while the operator confirms the license plate and relays information to ground units. Officers don’t need to engage in a dangerous high-speed pursuit until they’re in position, reducing risk to both law enforcement and the community

From Amber Alerts to high-speed pursuits, Vehicle Tracking makes complex piloting simple and safe.

Inflight LPR – Aerial Hot List Alerts

Running license plates while flying a drone has traditionally been a two-person task: one pilot to fly and another officer to handle license plate checks. With Flock Aerodome Inflight LPR, every Flock drone camera can become an ALPR camera.

• As the operator zooms in on a license plate, the system runs the plate against agency hotlists.
• If there’s a hit, the operator is instantly notified, and the information flows into the Flock ecosystem.
• This process happens seamlessly—without the pilot ever needing to pause the mission, break focus, or rely on additional staff support

Why it matters

Time is everything in active operations. Traditionally, confirming a license plate required manual entry, radio calls, or a separate officer handling the check. That delay could mean losing track of a suspect vehicle or missing a critical lead. Inflight LPR eliminates that lag by fusing drone operations directly with intelligence gathering—making the drone itself a real-time investigative partner.

Picture a DFR drone responding to a burglary alarm. The drone spots a vehicle leaving the scene and zooms in on the license plate. Without any extra steps, Inflight LPR runs the plate, flags it as stolen, and alerts officers immediately. Now, responding units know they are dealing with a felony suspect before they even arrive—shaping their tactics and improving officer safety.

This capability means fewer missed opportunities, smarter resource deployment, and ultimately, safer outcomes for both officers and the communities they protect.

Multi-Drone Operations – One Operator, Up to Four Drones at Once

Until recently, a single operator could only fly one drone at a time. That meant making tough choices—such as ending one mission early to respond to another. Or not responding to one at all.

Multi-Drone Operation changes that. With the right FAA waiver, one pilot can now control up to four drones at once.

• Launch multiple drones from different docks simultaneously.
• Switch between live windows for full control of each aircraft.
• Allow non-active drones to hover safely or follow automated flight paths.
• Replace drones mid-mission or respond to two calls at the same time.

Why it matters

Public safety resources are often stretched to the limit. DFR has already proven it can act as a force multiplier, but Multi-Drone Operation takes this a step further—making it possible for a single operator to scale their impact across an entire jurisdiction. Instead of having one aerial vantage point, agencies can now have multiple.

Imagine an agency monitoring a high-risk traffic stop with one drone when a burglary alarm comes in across town. In the past, the operator would need to choose which call to prioritize. With Multi-Drone Operation, they can launch a second aircraft from another station, monitor both incidents, and provide live intelligence to two separate teams at once. This means faster coverage, smarter deployments, and ultimately, safer outcomes for officers and civilians alike

This is the next evolution of DFR: more coverage, more flexibility, one pilot.

The Future of DFR

In 2025, DFR truly embraced its potential and soared into the mainstream. With these new capabilities, 2026 will be the year agencies scale faster, cover more ground, and respond smarter.

From Mobile Ops to Vehicle Follow to Multi-Drone operations, Flock continues to redefine what’s possible for public safety with both hardware and software.

And this is just the beginning.

Watch the full announcement in the video above—and see how your agency can take Drone as First Responder to new heights.