Background
Once a quiet mill town, Hudson, MA has blossomed into a vibrant community of 20,000 people, a bustling downtown, and must-see attractions. The Hudson Police Department prides itself on improving the quality of life for all citizens by providing a safe and secure environment rooted in community outreach and engagement. Technology plays a key role in the department’s mission.
The Challenge
The department has been utilizing drones for situational awareness for several years. They recently implemented LiveU technology to enhance their operations and increase their speed to respond.
The Solution: LiveU in Action
The LiveU field encoder is typically used for overwatch for special events to ensure increased safety of the community. In other instances, the department has leveraged the technology for arrest and search warrants. The LiveU IP-video field encoder powers the transmission of live feeds from the OJI Matrice 30T and Mavic 3T drones to the department’s communications center and field personnel, leveraging the LiveU Video Return platform for training, simulations, and crisis response.
Video Return
The LiveU Video Return platform allows real-time secure video sharing to internal mobile devices, tablets, laptops and command centers within Hudson PD, and the ability to share this video with external agencies during joint responses. External agencies can receive a web link that allows them visibility during the event, and this web link can be set to expire or be manually deleted to ensure only authorized users have visibility to this real-time visual intelligence.
The Solution: LiveU in Action
Simply connect the unit to the drone and the pilot is all set. The unit’s DataBridge mode offers resilient highspeed mobile internet connectivity in the field when cell congestion or lack of bandwidth challenge streaming from a drone.
“We received intel that a local individual possessed an illegal firearm. I flew the drone and live streamed the feed to involved units and was able to properly evaluate the situation. We got a search warrant and the next day, I again live streamed the overwatch surveillance leading up to the search and seizure of a gun and ammo. The LiveU integration with our drone allowed us to get a clear picture of the condition of the residence including open windows, which kept everyone safe throughout this mission.” said Officer Josh Rahn, Hudson PD.
Proven overwatch at marquee events
Late last summer, Rahn’s regional team was activated to increase security measures for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) fundraising bike-a-thon to benefit the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. Hudson PD provided overwatch for the event as cyclists gathered the night before to check in their gear. Rahn’s team was using the LiveU field unit to provide video streaming to a mobile command center and supervisors. “Using drones, we were able to help ensure the safety of over 6,000 riders and their gear as it was being secured for the ride to Cape Cod the next morning,” noted Rahn.
The Results
The LiveU unit has proven critical in Law Enforcement (LE) missions. The department received a call about some minors looking to cars in a location stricken with multiple stolen car reports. A drone was deployed to evaluate the situation, which found that the youths were simply playing a hide-and-seek game near the cars. This gave the department visibility into what was actually happening, which in turn, saved time and resources, without compromising anyone’s safety.
LiveU has helped the Hudson PD become more efficient in the field. They foresee more success stories around LiveU, drones, and overwatch, which will help them maintain safety and security for its officers and the community they serve.
"Our team has flown for eight or more hours straight, while live streaming the footage via the LiveU. It's a game-changer to have the persistent stream."
Officer Josh Rahn - Hudson PD