The Police University College is investigating how a remote controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (drone-in-a-box) system could be utilized in operational police work. The project is being carried out in cooperation with Central Finland and Southeastern Finland police departments.
The Police University College has initiated a development project to investigate the technical and functional capabilities of a drone-in-a-box (DIB) system in operational field work.
A drone-in-a-box system refers to a remotely controlled, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system that consists of a docking station installed on the roof of a building, a drone inside that is in constant readiness to take off, and a remote control system.
The project will see the installation of a weather-protected docking station on the roof of the Police University College building. The docking station will be controlled remotely from the situation center of Central Finland Police Department.
Drones are an everyday tool for the police. They are used, for example, in various search missions, documenting crime and accident scenes, and transmitting situational awareness.
Speed is an asset
Compared to a regular drone, the drone-in-a-box system is ready at all times, which means a flight mission can be started without delay. The system can also be used for area surveillance, in which case it supports or completely replaces surveillance using security cameras.
According to Superintendent Sami Hätönen, a drone-in-a-box system provides undeniable benefits to police work.
”Above all, its speed is an asset. A police patrol no longer needs to drive to the scene of an incident to launch a drone. On the other hand, the drone can act as a first patrol. The video image it transmits can be used to determine whether a police patrol is needed at the scene. In addition, a remote controlled drone frees up the hands of the police officers working on the patrol for work other than operating the drone.
In other countries, authorities already have similar systems in use. In Finland, the DIB system has so far been used at least for area surveillance. Cities have also shown interest in particular in shared drone-in-a-box systems.
“However, shared systems come with various stumbling blocks, so we decided to play it safe and test the system on our own terms first,” Hätönen says.
The plan is to begin the practical testing phase of the system in early 2026. In addition to Tampere, similar testing will be carried out in the area of Southeastern Finland Police Department.
