# Pueblo County Distributed Public-Safety Drone Pilot ## Research report and AI handoff for a public-facing options website **Working date:** August 23, 2026 **Working status:** Early concept development; no agency commitment, vendor selection, procurement, or operational approval has been made. **First prospective host site:** a well-secured storage facility in Pueblo West, Pueblo West, Colorado. **Intended public operator and grant applicant:** Pueblo County Sheriff's Office or another eligible Pueblo County public-safety entity—not the host business and not the volunteer assisting with research and paperwork. --- ## 1. Executive summary This report describes a proposed partnership in which Pueblo County public safety places a remotely operated, thermal-capable drone at a secure local business, beginning with the well-secured storage facility in Pueblo West. The storage facility would contribute a protected location, power, internet connectivity, physical access, and possibly some matching or gap funding. The Sheriff's Office or another authorized county entity would own or control the aircraft, select and supervise the pilots, hold the FAA and grant authorizations, decide when to launch, conduct every flight, manage evidence, and set camera-access rules. The first action is **not contacting drone vendors**. The immediate sequence is: 1. Turn this research into a neutral public-facing website showing the concept, candidate aircraft, potential funding, public benefits, safeguards, and unresolved questions. 2. Use that website to continue the conversation with the facility's owner, and to obtain his feedback and confidence in the pilot-site concept. 3. Present a concrete but still adjustable concept to the Sheriff's Office, county emergency-management personnel, county grant staff, commissioners, and other local stakeholders. 4. Jointly define the operational concept, responsible agency personnel, aircraft weight pathway, privacy rules, site requirements, and evaluation plan. 5. Prepare the next viable grant application and supporting FAA package. 6. Only after the public partners agree on requirements, request government quotes and demonstrations from the short-listed vendors. The proposed flight is **human initiated and human controlled**. An alarm or call can appear on a Sheriff's Office screen; an authorized officer or public-safety remote pilot can review available video and other information; and that responsible operator can decide whether to command a launch and conduct the mission. This report does not propose an AI system or alarm system independently deciding to launch a law-enforcement aircraft. The project has two related purposes: - **Host-site security:** quicker observation of suspicious activity, perimeter events, fire, trespass, theft, and other incidents at the participating facility. - **Community public safety:** the same county-operated aircraft could respond from the host site to nearby searches, crimes in progress, missing persons, wildland fires, hazardous-material incidents, disaster assessment, vehicle observation, or other authorized missions. Pueblo County is not starting from zero. The Sheriff's Office already describes its [Sheriff's Office Aerial Response & Rescue (S.O.A.R.R.) program](https://www.pueblosheriff.com/245/Patrol-Services-Division), and local coverage reports that its drone capability has been used for life-safety and regional missions. The City of Pueblo also has a [UAV unit with Part 107-certified personnel](https://www.pueblo.us/2435/UAV-Unit) and has announced a Drone as First Responder program. The strongest local pitch is therefore not “Pueblo needs to discover drones,” but “Pueblo can extend existing public-safety aviation capability with a longer-endurance, pre-positioned, county-operated platform and a new public-private host-site model.” ### Preliminary recommendation For the website and local discussion, present four aircraft tiers but identify two as the main long-endurance contenders: 1. **Skyfront Perimeter 8 — leading documented-value candidate.** It is a large U.S.-made hybrid-electric multirotor on the Blue UAS Select list, starts at a published base price of $49,900, offers approximately five hours without payload and about two hours with a 5 kg payload, and can be integrated with long-range EO/IR cameras and remote communications. It has a 51 lb maximum takeoff weight, which preserves a possible Part 107 path if the complete operating configuration remains below 55 lb. 2. **Harris Aerial Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI — leading alternative.** It is a large U.S.-made Blue UAS hybrid hexacopter, lists four hours with no payload, about 185 minutes with a 2 kg payload, and about 100 minutes with the maximum 5 kg payload. Its exact 25 kg maximum takeoff weight is slightly above 55 lb even though the manufacturer rounds it to 55 lb; the county would have to keep the actual operating weight below 55 lb for Part 107 or select a public-aircraft/Part 91 route. 3. **PDW C100 Public Safety — mid-endurance integrated option.** It lists 74 minutes with its ISR payload, a 40 mph maximum speed, a 10 lb payload capability, and a Trillium EO/IR option. Price is not public. 4. **Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat with Gremsy VIO F1 — budget fallback.** It offers more than 40 minutes with the EO/IR payload, 49 mph maximum airspeed, and a public market path likely well below the two hybrid systems. It is not the desired “across-town endurance” aircraft, but it is a credible U.S.-made Blue UAS fallback if grant budget, training, logistics, or FAA complexity makes a hybrid aircraft impractical for the first award. The high-end military systems discussed in this report—the VXE30 Stalker, K1000ULE, and Shield AI V-BAT—should appear only as future reference points. Their capabilities are impressive, but they are poorly matched to a first pilot whose entire federal award may be capped at $200,000 and must also pay for the camera, communications, site, enclosure, training, documentation, spares, maintenance, and contingency. --- ## 2. Decisions already made, open questions, and discarded assumptions ### Decisions already made for this concept - The website comes before vendor calls. - the storage facility is the proposed first adopter and demonstration host, subject to the owner's agreement and county approval. - A county public-safety entity will be the applicant, operator, authorization holder, and responsible party. - The project researcher will help the responsible county personnel prepare material but will not be the responsible person, waiver holder, pilot in command, or operational decision-maker. - Launches are commanded by an authorized human remote operator after reviewing an alarm or public-safety request. - the owner, facility employees, and customers are not proposed as pilots. - If the county permits it, the owner and possibly customers may receive limited, read-only camera access; they do not receive aircraft control. - Chinese-made aircraft are excluded. The procurement filter is the current DCMA Blue List and the particular grant's wording—not a vendor's general statement that a product is “NDAA compliant.” - Compactness is not a requirement. The preference is a physically larger aircraft with meaningful endurance, thermal imaging, strong wind capability, secure communications, and a price that leaves room under the grant cap for the rest of the system. - The earlier requirement to use the airborne camera as a stationary camera while the aircraft is landed has been dropped. A separate fixed camera system is cheaper and better for continuous on-site viewing. - Automatic recharging is not a current requirement. A first pilot can use a prepared landing area and human battery service or refueling between missions. ### Important open questions - Which public entity applies and signs: Sheriff's Office, county government, emergency management, or a coordinated arrangement? - Did the county submit the FY26 COPS Microgrants SF-424 by August 17, 2026? If not, FY26 is no longer available even though the JustGrants second-step deadline is August 24. - Does the county prefer Part 107 operations with aircraft under 55 lb, public-aircraft operations under a COA, or a combination in which each flight is clearly conducted under only one framework? - How large is the intended routine operating area, and what routes, altitudes, airspace classes, airports, hospitals, schools, highways, and dense-population areas does it include? - Will the first phase be confined to the facility and nearby Pueblo West, or will the county immediately seek wider-area BVLOS authority? - Which exact aircraft, radio, ground-control software, camera, mount, and accessories are currently present in the DCMA Blue List configuration acceptable to the selected grant? - Can the long-endurance aircraft remain fully assembled and launch-ready in a weather-protected enclosure, or will a trained person at the site need to perform setup and preflight checks? - Who refuels or swaps batteries, and how often will the site be inspected? - How will the remote pilot receive reliable control, telemetry, and live video if the site's primary internet connection fails? - What portions of live or recorded imagery may be shown to the host and tenants, and under what role-based, time-limited, and auditable rules? - What is the retention period for operational video, alert video, training video, and non-evidentiary video? - How will public records, evidentiary integrity, criminal-justice information, and cybersecurity be separated from any private facility feed? - What measurable results will be used in the grant evaluation? ### Ideas not to represent as part of the committed pilot - Autonomous law-enforcement mission initiation. - the owner or customers flying the aircraft. - The volunteer researcher serving as the county's responsible person. - A promise that the drone will always read a license plate at any speed, height, weather condition, or angle. - A claim that “Blue UAS” by itself proves that every accessory and modified configuration is grant-eligible. - A promise of unlimited cross-town BVLOS flight before the FAA operating area and mitigations are approved. - Using the landed aircraft as the facility's permanent 360-degree security camera. --- ## 3. Proposed partnership model ### Pueblo County Sheriff's Office or public-safety agency The public agency would: - apply for and administer the grant; - own or formally lease the aircraft as required by the chosen operating framework; - designate the county's responsible official; - maintain the FAA operational authority and airspace authorizations; - select, train, and supervise pilots; - decide whether and when to launch; - maintain flight, maintenance, incident, and training records; - establish mission priorities and suspend host access whenever public-safety operations require it; - adopt privacy, civil-liberties, retention, evidence, cybersecurity, and public-records policies; - operate the dispatch or real-time monitoring interface; and - publish program results. This would expand an existing local capability. The Sheriff's Office describes S.O.A.R.R. as deploying drones for missing persons, natural disasters, tactical response, and scene documentation. [KOAA's earlier report on the Sheriff's Aerial Response and Rescue Team](https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/pueblo-sheriffs-office-introduces-aerial-response-and-rescue-team) also explains that federal money helped establish the team and that the aircraft were shared with other southern Colorado counties. The proposed pilot can be framed as the next stage: pre-positioning a longer-endurance asset and evaluating a repeatable host-site model. ### the well-secured storage facility the storage facility would be asked to consider providing: - a secure portion of the property for the aircraft enclosure and landing area; - electricity; - wired internet plus permission for redundant connectivity equipment; - reasonable physical access for county pilots, maintainers, and inspectors; - coordination with the site's existing cameras, alarms, gate systems, and operating rules where mutually useful; - site-specific incident knowledge and feedback; and - possibly cash or in-kind support for costs the grant does not cover. The facility is a strong demonstration site because it is locally owned, advertises 24/7 access, has a gated layout and individual access codes, already uses 24/7 video surveillance, and has outdoor vehicle storage. See the the facility's public website, the facility's public website, the facility's public website, and the facility's public website. ### Facility owner and customer camera access The proposed camera arrangement is about **viewing**, not piloting. When the aircraft is airborne for an authorized facility-security purpose, the county could allow the owner a read-only live view. Depending on policy and system design, selected tenants could receive limited views of a specific incident or a sanitized facility feed. The county should be able to disable or override private viewing instantly whenever the mission changes to law enforcement, search and rescue, medical response, a protected tactical incident, or another sensitive use. The technical design should separate at least three products: 1. **Pilot/control stream:** full-quality, low-latency command video available only to authorized public-safety personnel. 2. **Law-enforcement/evidence stream:** recorded and logged according to county policy, with evidentiary and access controls. 3. **Host/customer view:** read-only, delayed or reduced-quality if necessary, with no telemetry, no aircraft command, no evidence-management permissions, and no access to unrelated public-safety missions. For continuous facility surveillance while the drone is not flying, the storage facility should continue using ordinary fixed cameras. Those cameras use little power, can cover multiple angles simultaneously, and do not consume flight fuel or battery cycles. ### Recognition for participating businesses If the county approves the program and its communications policy, it could identify participating sites in press releases or a public partner page. That recognition can legitimately support a facility's high-security market position, but public material should avoid promising that property cannot be stolen or that a drone is always available. Appropriate language is “participating host site in a county public-safety pilot,” paired with clear operating and privacy information. --- ## 4. What an incident would look like ### Facility-security event 1. A gate, fixed camera, motion sensor, fire detector, call, or other alarm generates a notification. 2. The authorized Sheriff's Office or public-safety operator reviews the alert, fixed-camera video, location, weather, airspace status, aircraft readiness, and current mission priorities. 3. If the operator determines that a drone response is appropriate, the operator commands the aircraft to start and launch from the protected site. 4. The remote pilot controls or supervises the flight, selects optical or thermal imagery, and observes the facility or nearby area. 5. The pilot may orbit, follow an approved route, maintain overwatch, or observe a departing vehicle, subject to the FAA authorization and agency policy. 6. Deputies or other responders receive useful information before or while they arrive. 7. The pilot returns and lands the aircraft. A trained person performs required post-flight inspection, battery service or refueling, and log entry. ### Nearby community incident 1. Dispatch, a deputy, fire personnel, emergency management, or another authorized source requests aerial support. 2. The responsible public-safety operator determines whether the the storage facility aircraft is the nearest suitable asset. 3. The operator checks the approved operating area, route, weather, fuel, communications, and any conflicting mission. 4. The operator commands launch and conducts the mission. 5. Any host or tenant camera view is suspended unless the county explicitly determines that public viewing is appropriate. 6. The aircraft lands at its origin or another approved recovery location. ### Vehicle observation and license plates A long-endurance drone does not always have to fly at the vehicle's speed. From a legal and operationally approved position, it can maintain an orbit or take a shorter route, use optical zoom, watch likely road exits, and hand information to ground officers. However, plate capture depends on lens quality, distance, angle, lighting, vibration, atmospheric conditions, shutter settings, and the plate's size in the image. Thermal imaging is valuable for detecting people, animals, engines, fire, and heat signatures, but visible-light zoom is generally the relevant channel for reading a plate. The pilot project should include controlled day/night plate tests at representative heights and distances before making a public performance claim. --- ## 5. Why a network of storage facilities can work Self-storage properties are promising host sites because many have controlled perimeters, power, communications, open internal lanes, staff or contractors, and locations distributed through residential and commercial areas. They also have a direct security incentive. The long-term concept is a distributed network: - each full aircraft site covers a defined sector; - the nearest available county-controlled drone responds; - neighboring host sites may serve as emergency recovery, refueling, communications, or maintenance points even if they do not all receive an aircraft initially; - common equipment, policies, training, and software reduce the marginal cost of expansion; and - host contributions and future grants can add sites over time. For a first pilot, the website should not imply that every participating facility must immediately receive a $100,000 aircraft. A hub-and-spoke version may be more affordable: one or two aircraft at the best sites, with several additional businesses providing possible recovery locations and network support. The system should complement—not duplicate without coordination—the [City of Pueblo UAV Unit](https://www.pueblo.us/2435/UAV-Unit), the City's reported Drone as First Responder/Real Time Crime Center investment, and the Sheriff's existing S.O.A.R.R. team. County-city mutual aid, shared airspace awareness, compatible video-sharing rules, and deconfliction could materially strengthen the grant narrative. --- ## 6. Procurement rule: current Blue List configuration, not merely “American” The project has excluded Chinese-made drones. The practical procurement filter is the [DCMA Blue List portal](https://bluelist.dcma.mil/) and the exact grant's certification language. The Defense Innovation Unit explains that responsibility for the list transitioned to DCMA; see the [Blue UAS portal notice](https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-portal) and [transition announcement](https://www.diu.mil/latest/dius-blue-uas-list-to-transition-to-dcma). DCMA describes the Blue List as an aggregated catalog of compliant unmanned systems and components. That does not mean “Blue” is simply a synonym for “made in the United States.” It is a government vetting and supply-chain status that can change. The grant team should save a dated export or screenshot from the portal showing: - the aircraft model and submodel; - the camera/gimbal; - the radio or datalink; - ground-control hardware and software; - required accessories and mounts; - any firmware or configuration restrictions; and - the manufacturer's current status. This exact-configuration check matters because BJA's current [UAS funding requirements](https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/uas) say that UAS purchases need express prior approval, require a certification based on the DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List, restrict modifications and added accessories under the federal award, and require adequate privacy, civil-liberties, and cybersecurity policies. A product's “NDAA compliant” marketing label is helpful but is not the same thing as approval under a particular award. The website should use a status label such as: > **Blue-list status:** Manufacturer or platform currently reports Blue status. Exact aircraft, payload, radio, software, and accessory configuration must be reverified in the DCMA portal on the procurement date and accepted by the awarding agency. --- ## 7. Aircraft requirements ### Required or strongly preferred - current grant-eligible Blue List configuration; - no Chinese aircraft or prohibited covered-entity components under the selected award; - 640 × 512 thermal imaging or better; - stabilized visible-light optical zoom sufficient for useful identification testing; - live optical and thermal video to a remote public-safety operator; - secure command, telemetry, and video links with encryption; - support for internet/LTE/mesh or another engineered remote link, not merely a hand controller beside the drone; - multirotor hover and vertical takeoff/landing; - human-commanded remote launch; - return-to-home and controlled landing; - wind tolerance appropriate to Pueblo conditions; - room in the budget for training, communications, enclosure, spares, maintenance, documentation, and contingency; - manufacturer support and maintenance documentation; and - compatibility with the FAA path selected by the county. ### Preferred for the long-endurance concept - at least 90–120 minutes with the actual EO/IR payload and operational reserve; - maximum speed in the 35–50 mph range; - redundant propulsion and backup power; - remote engine status, fuel status, and health telemetry for hybrid aircraft; - command/control handoff or networked ground stations; - ability to remain assembled and mission-ready inside a secure enclosure; - daytime and nighttime operation within the approved framework; and - payload tracking or operator-assisted tracking. ### Not required for the first pilot - compact folding size; - autonomous selection of missions; - robotic battery charging; - camera use while parked; - facial recognition; - weapons, payload drops, or counter-drone functions; or - flight above the public-safety mission's approved altitude. --- ## 8. Candidate aircraft comparison Manufacturer numbers are not guaranteed field performance. Endurance changes with payload, fuel, temperature, altitude, wind, maintenance condition, and reserve requirements. Pueblo West's elevation and summer heat make local demonstration testing important. | Candidate | Status and origin | Published endurance relevant to this project | Speed and wind | Payload/thermal path | Public price signal | Working judgment | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | **Skyfront Perimeter 8** | U.S.-made; manufacturer reports Blue UAS Select | 5 hr no payload; 2 hr with 5 kg; 1 hr with 7.5 kg | 36 mph max; 22 mph cruise; tested at 25+ mph wind | Up to 7.5 kg; long-range EO/IR options including Trillium and NextVision | Starts at **$49,900** base | Leading value candidate; 51 lb maximum takeoff weight preserves possible sub-55-lb route | | **Skyfront Perimeter 8+** | U.S.-made; manufacturer reports Blue UAS Select | 5+ hr no payload; 3 hr with 5 kg; 2 hr with 7.5 kg; 1 hr with 10 kg | 44 mph max; 22 mph cruise; tested at 25+ mph wind | Up to 10 kg; same high-end EO/IR ecosystem | Starts in same family but configured price is quote-only | Strongest P8 performance, but 57 lb maximum takeoff weight creates a large-UAS/public-aircraft decision | | **Harris Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI** | Made in USA; manufacturer reports Blue UAS | 240 min no payload; about 185 min at 2 kg; about 100 min at 5 kg | 33.6 mph max; wind limit must be confirmed for chosen mission | Up to 5 kg; can carry stabilized EO/IR if exact approved integration is confirmed | No current public quote; 2025 university estimate about **$40,000 base** | Serious contender; exact 25 kg MTOW is slightly above 55 lb, so operational configuration/path matters | | **PDW C100 Public Safety** | U.S. system; manufacturer reports Blue UAS | 74 min with ISR payload | 40 mph max | Up to 10 lb; Trillium HD40-LVV offers EO, 180× zoom, and LWIR | Quote only | Integrated public-safety option with better endurance than ordinary battery multirotors, but below the two-hour target | | **Inspired Flight IF800 + Gremsy VIO F1** | Made in USA; manufacturer reports Blue UAS | 54 min maximum; more than 40 min with Gremsy VIO and reserve | 49 mph; 19 kt sustained and 23 kt gust published spec | 3 kg max payload; Gremsy VIO F1 has 4K EO, 640 × 512 thermal, zoom, and laser rangefinder | Aircraft/payload packages commonly in roughly **$25,000–$40,000** class | Best budget fallback; fast and proven size class, but not a long-endurance cross-town platform | | **Inspired Flight IF1200** | Made in USA; manufacturer reports Blue UAS | Payload-dependent battery endurance; not a multi-hour platform | 56 mph; 23 kt sustained and 29 kt gusts | 19 lb max payload, which can carry larger EO/IR systems | Quote/configuration dependent | Large, fast, wind-capable and stays at 54.9 lb maximum; useful if camera quality matters more than endurance | | **Skydio X10 + Dock** | U.S. manufacturer; Blue ecosystem | About 40 min class | 45 mph class; published dock/X10 environment limits apply | Integrated 640 × 512 FLIR Boson+ thermal, zoom, remote operations | Complete system commonly consumes a substantial portion of a $200k award | Excellent integrated reference system; compact and short-endurance relative to revised requirement | ### 8.1 Skyfront Perimeter 8 and 8+ The [official Perimeter 8 page](https://skyfront.com/perimeter-8) gives unusually complete public numbers. The base Perimeter 8 is rated for five hours with no payload, three hours with 4 kg, two hours with 5 kg, and one hour with 7.5 kg. The 8+ is rated for more than five hours without payload, three hours with 5 kg, two hours with 7.5 kg, and one hour with 10 kg. The manufacturer states that prices start at $49,900. The Perimeter 8 is approximately 6.5 by 6.25 feet ready to fly. It is a two-stroke gasoline-electric hybrid: the engine drives a generator and the propellers remain electrically driven. The engine automatically starts and stops, and engine and fuel telemetry are shown at the ground station. The system supports encrypted radios, command/control handoff, and communication options from roughly 10 km to 100 km. Skyfront also advertises LTE, mesh, and Starlink integration on its [company/product site](https://skyfront.com/). Skyfront's [surveillance and security page](https://skyfront.com/solutions/surveillance-and-security) specifically presents long-range communications, high-zoom ISR gimbals, and thermal/visible payloads. The [Trillium HD45-LV-CZ](https://www.trilliumeng.com/news/trillium-engineerings-hd45-gimbal-achieves-auvsi-green-uas-certification) has achieved Green UAS certification in a Perimeter 8/8+ configuration and may have a path into an acceptable Blue configuration, but the award team must verify the exact current listing. High-end Trillium payloads may be expensive enough to put pressure on the $200,000 total. **Why it fits:** longest published endurance at a public starting price that still appears compatible with a $200,000 pilot; command handoff and remote-link options; high payload capacity; under-55-lb P8 variant. **What must be tested or confirmed:** configured price; exact DCMA-listed EO/IR combination; Pueblo elevation/heat endurance; remote launch from a protected enclosure; maintenance and refueling burden; noise; datalink design; and whether the 36 mph P8 or 44 mph P8+ is necessary. ### 8.2 Harris Aerial Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI The [official H6 Hybrid page](https://harrisaerial.com/carrier-drones/carrier-h6-hybrid/) lists 240 minutes with no payload, approximately 185 minutes with 2 kg, and approximately 100 minutes with the full 5 kg payload. It lists a 33.6 mph maximum horizontal speed, 25 kg maximum takeoff weight, 14.5 kg empty weight, IP43 rating, a 6.5 L tank using 93-octane gasoline, and about five minutes of backup-battery endurance. It is a foldable hexacopter approximately 2.37 m propeller-tip to propeller-tip. Harris describes the aircraft as made in the United States and Blue UAS. A 2025 University of Florida extension comparison estimated a $40,000 base price, but that is not a current manufacturer quote and must be labeled only as a planning estimate. A realistic public-safety package with camera, mount, ground station, link, spares, training, and support will cost much more than the bare-aircraft estimate. **Why it fits:** multi-hour endurance with a moderate camera payload; six motors; secure-government positioning; enough payload for serious EO/IR; gasoline logistics may be easier than charging large battery fleets. **What must be tested or confirmed:** configured price; actual wind operating limit; exact Blue-listed camera/radio configuration; remote launch integration; maintenance; noise; and FAA weight. The published exact maximum of 25 kg converts to 55.1 lb, while Part 107 applies below 55 lb. A lighter operating configuration may remain below the line; otherwise the public-aircraft/Part 91 route should be evaluated. ### 8.3 PDW C100 Public Safety The [C100 Public Safety page](https://www.pdw.ai/products/c100-public-safety) lists 74 minutes of flight with an ISR payload, a 40 mph maximum speed, a 10 lb payload capability, and an under-three-minute dispatch-to-deployment claim. Its listed Trillium HD40-LVV payload combines long visible-light zoom and long-wave infrared imaging. The system is described as Blue UAS and NDAA compliant. **Why it fits:** purpose-built public-safety option, integrated sensor path, good endurance for a battery aircraft, more compact logistics than the hybrids. **Why it is secondary:** 74 minutes is useful but not the desired multi-hour endurance, price is not public, and the marketing emphasis includes defense functions outside this civilian pilot. The county should evaluate only the public-safety configuration. ### 8.4 Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat with Gremsy VIO F1 The [IF800 product page](https://www.inspiredflight.com/if800) lists 54 minutes maximum flight time, 49 mph maximum airspeed, a 6.6 lb payload capacity, and Blue UAS status. Inspired Flight's store states that the aircraft can fly [more than 40 minutes with the Gremsy VIO](https://shop.inspiredflight.com/products/if800-tomcat), with reserve. The published wind specification is 19 kt sustained and 23 kt gusting; the manufacturer's operating guidance also discusses a more conservative Beaufort-based envelope. The [Gremsy VIO F1 documentation](https://docs.gremsy.com/payloads/vio/general) lists a 4K EO camera, 20× optical zoom with additional digital/super-resolution modes, a 640 × 512 FLIR Boson radiometric thermal sensor at 60 Hz, and a laser rangefinder. Public retail listings place the F1 around $13,500–$15,500 before integration. The exact grant-eligible status of the whole aircraft/payload/radio configuration must be verified. **Why it fits:** U.S.-made, relatively affordable, fast, real thermal and zoom payload, stays comfortably below 55 lb, and could serve as a first-step system if the hybrid integration is not ready. **Why it is secondary:** even 40-plus minutes loaded leaves far less time for travel, observation, and return than a two-hour hybrid mission. ### 8.5 Systems to show as future benchmarks, not first-pilot recommendations - **[VXE30 Stalker](https://www.avinc.com/uas/vxe30):** long-endurance fixed-wing VTOL surveillance aircraft, roughly four hours on battery and longer with fuel-cell configurations. Baton Rouge public reporting indicates a complete police procurement and training package approached seven figures, demonstrating why it is outside this pilot's budget. - **[K1000ULE](https://www.khaero.com/k1000ule):** very-long-endurance large VTOL/fixed-wing system with 12-hour and longer configurations, long-range communications, and EO/IR payloads. It is a defense-class, quote-only system rather than a practical $200,000 community pilot. - **[Shield AI V-BAT](https://shield.ai/v-bat/):** tail-sitting VTOL fixed-wing aircraft with 12-plus-hour class endurance and a small landing footprint. Its 165 lb maximum takeoff weight and defense market put it far outside the initial grant and FAA simplicity target. ### 8.6 Other systems reviewed and not advanced Several Blue or U.S.-made systems are credible for conventional public safety but do not meet the revised big-aircraft/long-endurance preference: Skydio X10, Vantage Vesper, Freefly Astro Max, Teal 2, Parrot ANAFI USA, WISPR SkyScout, Easy Aerial Osprey, Edge 130, Ghost-X, and Trace. They can remain in a research appendix, but filling the website with too many short-endurance models will obscure the actual decision. --- ## 9. Camera and communications requirements ### EO/IR camera The first pilot should target: - 640 × 512 thermal resolution at a useful frame rate; - stabilized pan/tilt; - strong visible-light optical zoom; - simultaneous or rapidly switchable optical and thermal views; - operator-controlled tracking where lawful and operationally appropriate; - local recording plus secure live streaming; - accurate metadata, time, aircraft location, and camera orientation; - day/night testing against people, vehicles, smoke, fire, roofs, and representative plates; and - a current approved supply-chain status as part of the complete aircraft configuration. The Gremsy VIO F1 is an obvious budget camera to show because it combines 4K visible video, 640 × 512 thermal, zoom, and ranging in an approximately 854 g package. The Trillium HD40/HD45 family and NextVision systems may provide superior long-range ISR capability, but their configured prices are not public and may consume much more of the grant. ### Remote command and video “Long control range” on a product page is not enough. This concept requires an engineered end-to-end connection from the remote Sheriff's Office position to the host aircraft. The design should evaluate: - primary wired-internet backhaul at the storage facility; - a commercial LTE/5G backup from a different carrier; - local line-of-sight or mesh radio options; - encryption and identity management; - command latency and video latency; - lost-link behavior and return/landing logic; - independent aircraft health telemetry; - UPS/generator backup for the enclosure, networking, and weather equipment; - local weather measurements; - VPN or zero-trust access controls; - logs of every login, viewing session, control handoff, and mission; - network separation from the facility's tenant-payment, gate, and office networks; and - a procedure for the county to assume exclusive control and video access. ### Protected launch site Because robotic charging is no longer a requirement, the first site can use a simpler protected system: - level, marked landing pad with obstruction clearance; - locked, weather-resistant enclosure large enough for the assembled or staged aircraft; - remote or locally controlled door/roof only if it can be engineered safely; - physical perimeter and tamper alarm; - camera monitoring of the pad itself; - fire-safe fuel or battery storage that meets local code; - lighting that does not create camera or aviation hazards; - wind, precipitation, and temperature sensing; - grounding/lightning protection; - redundant networking and backup power; and - safe access for inspection, refueling, maintenance, and recovery. A separate rotating platform could be added later for fixed-camera coverage, but it is not necessary to justify the aircraft. Ordinary fixed PTZ and thermal cameras are likely cheaper for continuous ground surveillance. --- ## 10. FAA operational path and what the “200-foot BVLOS waiver” means This section is a planning explanation, not legal advice or a substitute for the county's FAA coordination. ### Two primary public-safety paths The FAA's [Operate a Drone, Start a Drone Program](https://www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov/drone_program) page explains that public agencies can fly sub-55-lb drones under Part 107 or operate as a public aircraft under a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). The FAA's current [Public Safety Toolkit](https://www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov/public_safety_toolkit) provides application flowcharts, sample letters, checklists, and forms. #### Part 107 civil operation - The aircraft must be below 55 lb at takeoff, including everything onboard. - Each person acting as remote pilot in command needs a Part 107 remote-pilot certificate. - Aircraft registration, Remote ID, airspace authorization, and other Part 107 requirements apply. - Routine BVLOS requires a waiver of §107.31. - The [Part 107 waiver page](https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_waivers) tells applicants to describe the operation, hazards, and mitigations in detail and says the FAA aims to decide complete applications within about 90 days, although complex cases vary. #### Public aircraft operation under Part 91/COA - The public entity conducts governmental functions under its COA and related authority. - A jurisdictional COA can cover a defined area and can include aircraft of different weights, subject to its terms. - The agency designates and oversees its responsible personnel, operators, aircraft, manuals, training, maintenance, and safety system. - The FAA's [Part 91 waiver page](https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/part_91_waivers) provides the current application path, including public-aircraft UAS of any weight. - The FAA confirms that [one government entity can hold a COA covering multiple departments, operators, and aircraft](https://www.faa.gov/faq/can-single-government-entity-create-certificate-waiver-or-authorization-coa-covers-all), provided the COA holder exercises oversight. An agency can maintain both types of capability, but each specific flight must be clearly conducted under the applicable authority and procedures. ### The 200-foot public-safety BVLOS concept The phrase does not mean “any police officer may fly anywhere within 200 feet.” It refers to a public-safety waiver framework for lower-altitude, shielded BVLOS operations. The FAA's Public Safety Toolkit says that agencies not using an FCC-approved aviation detection system capable of seeing non-cooperative aircraft should use the **PAO-PSO BVLOS 200-foot Waiver Checklist**. Agencies using an approved detect-and-avoid system use a different checklist. The basic safety idea is to keep the drone low and near the protection of the built environment, where conventional crewed aircraft normally do not operate, while using procedures, airspace limitations, weather limits, communications, lost-link behavior, and other mitigations accepted by the FAA. The exact altitude, lateral distance, obstruction relationship, controlled-airspace limit, operating area, and mission conditions come from the issued waiver or COA—not from the nickname. This is potentially the right framework for the intended operation: an authorized officer at a remote public-safety location receives an alert, reviews live information, decides to launch, and flies the aircraft at low altitude around a facility or through an approved nearby area. It does **not** automatically authorize unrestricted cross-town pursuit. The county's application must define the operating geography and demonstrate equivalent safety. The FAA's public-safety [BVLOS FAQ](https://www.faa.gov/faq/how-does-beyond-visual-line-sight-bvlos-currently-apply-public-safety-terms-waivers-and) emphasizes that BVLOS needs a Part 107 waiver or a specific COA provision. For temporary emergencies, the FAA also has a Special Governmental Interest process, but the goal here is a routine preapproved operating framework rather than relying on emergency permission for every normal mission. ### What the application package will need to explain - responsible county organization and official; - pilots, qualifications, recurrent training, and duty/rest rules; - aircraft, weight, configuration, registration, Remote ID, and maintenance; - launch/recovery sites and operating boundaries; - proposed altitude, routes, airspace, and ground-risk areas; - how the pilot detects and avoids crewed aircraft; - communications architecture and lost-link response; - weather and wind minimums; - dispatch, launch, abort, handoff, landing, and emergency procedures; - night operations; - operations near people, roads, and moving vehicles; - recordkeeping, safety reporting, and corrective action; - privacy and community-engagement policies; and - evidence that the agency can safely perform the proposed operation repeatedly. The county officials—not the outside research helper—will designate the responsible person, sign, submit, answer FAA requests, and operate under the approval. --- ## 11. Grant strategy ### 11.1 Primary target: COPS CPD Microgrants, next viable cycle The U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office's [FY26 CPD Microgrants page](https://cops.usdoj.gov/cpdmicrogrants) contains a dedicated Unmanned Aerial Systems subcategory. It specifically identifies search and rescue, pursuit operations, barricaded subjects, digital evidence, and wellness checks as UAS uses, and it gives priority consideration to projects with a comprehensive evaluation component. For FY26: - maximum award: **$200,000**; - performance period: **24 months**; - local match: **none required**; - Grants.gov SF-424 deadline: **August 17, 2026**; and - JustGrants full-application deadline: **August 24, 2026**. As of this report's August 23 date, a new applicant that did not complete the Grants.gov first step by August 17 cannot start an FY26 application. If Pueblo County already submitted the SF-424, county personnel should immediately verify whether the JustGrants second step can still be completed. Otherwise, the right use of the website and report is to prepare a stronger next-cycle submission, not to rush an ineligible application. The application should be framed as a measurable demonstration of a public-private host-site model that extends an existing Sheriff's drone program. It should not be framed as purchasing a gadget for a private business. ### 11.2 Byrne JAG The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant can support law-enforcement technology, but the [BJA UAS requirements](https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/uas) require express prior approval. The applicant must submit the required UAS certification and demonstrate adequate privacy, civil-liberties, and cybersecurity policies. If an existing award did not include UAS, the recipient can request a Grant Award Modification through JustGrants. JAG is a possible funding layer for equipment, training, or expansion, but local formula allocations may not cover the whole project and may already be committed. The grant team should check the current [JAG program and allocation archives](https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/archives) rather than assuming availability. ### 11.3 Colorado SHSP / FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program Colorado's [Homeland Security Grant Program page](https://dhsem.colorado.gov/grants/grant-programs/homeland-security-grant-program) says applicants work through their Colorado all-hazards regional coordinator. SHSP supports equipment, planning, training, exercises, and core capabilities related to terrorism and catastrophic hazards. This route becomes stronger if the proposal emphasizes regional situational awareness, critical infrastructure, wildland fire, hazardous materials, missing persons, interoperable communications, and mutual aid—not only storage theft. The project team should ask the regional coordinator how UAS, EO/IR, communications, and site equipment map to the current Authorized Equipment List and regional investment priorities. Do not assume that a previous year's allowability carries into the next notice. ### 11.4 FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant The [FEMA EMPG page](https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/emergency-management-performance) describes support for building and sustaining prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities. EMPG normally flows through the state and commonly requires cost sharing. It may be more suitable for planning, training, emergency-management integration, or communications than for the entire aircraft package. ### 11.5 COPS Technology and Equipment Program / congressional community project funding The COPS Technology and Equipment Program is generally driven by congressionally directed community-project requests rather than an ordinary nationwide competitive application. A future request through Colorado's congressional delegation could fund a later site or a larger regional package. The website will help because it gives elected officials a concrete local concept, partners, budget, safeguards, and measurable outcomes. ### 11.6 Other supplemental possibilities - Colorado programs addressing missing persons or persons who wander may periodically support search technology. Availability, eligibility, and deadlines must be verified for the next cycle. - Training organizations sometimes offer donated Part 107 courses to public-safety agencies; these should be treated as supplements, not the core funding strategy. - the storage facility or other host sites can provide in-kind space, electricity, internet, and access even when a federal grant does not require a formal match. - A host contribution could fund non-evidentiary fixed cameras, site fencing, or other private-benefit elements while grant funds cover the public-safety system. - County capital funds, asset-forfeiture funds where legally allowable, foundations, insurers, utilities, and critical-infrastructure partners may fill specific gaps, subject to counsel and procurement rules. --- ## 12. Working $195,000 pilot budget This is a planning allocation, not a quote. It shows why the aircraft and camera cannot consume the entire $200,000 grant. | Category | Planning amount | Includes | |---|---:|---| | Aircraft, approved EO/IR payload, ground control | $85,000 | Aircraft, camera, mount, controller, basic integration | | Remote communications and video | $20,000 | Routers, LTE backup, VPN/security, antennas, integration, initial service | | Host-site pad and protected enclosure | $30,000 | Pad, enclosure, door/roof controls if used, electrical, UPS, weather station, network, code work | | Pilot and operations training | $20,000 | Part 107 as applicable, aircraft training, night/BVLOS procedures, recurrent scenarios | | Spares, fuel/batteries, maintenance and initial support | $20,000 | Propellers, batteries/fuel equipment, tools, maintenance kit, support agreement | | Policies, evaluation, insurance and documentation | $10,000 | Policy support, evaluation, public engagement, insurance or professional services as allowable | | Contingency | $10,000 | Unforeseen integration, site, shipping, or compliance expense | | **Total** | **$195,000** | Leaves only $5,000 under a $200,000 cap | ### Budget implications - A $49,900 base Perimeter 8 could fit only if the chosen camera, radio, training, and site costs remain controlled. - A high-end Trillium payload could force the total above $200,000; host or local funds may be needed for the enclosure or private facility components. - Harris H6 may fit if the estimated base price is close to current reality and an affordable approved camera can be integrated. - PDW C100 pricing is unknown; it cannot be ranked by value until a later government quote phase. - IF800/VIO leaves the most money for infrastructure and training but sacrifices endurance. - The grant narrative should identify which expenses are public-safety assets and which private-benefit expenses the host will cover. The ideal grant request should target roughly $175,000–$195,000, with a clearly documented in-kind host contribution and an alternate reduced scope. --- ## 13. Privacy, civil liberties, evidence, and public trust A public-facing website should address safeguards before anyone asks. The project will be more credible—not less—if it openly states the limits. ### Recommended pilot commitments - Human public-safety personnel decide every launch. - No host, tenant, customer, vendor, or AI system receives flight authority. - No facial-recognition use in the pilot. - No sale of imagery or tracking information. - Flights have documented public-safety or approved training purposes. - Role-based accounts, multifactor authentication, and audit logs are required. - Facility/customer viewing is read-only, limited, and subordinate to law-enforcement needs. - The public-safety control/evidence system is isolated from the facility's business and tenant networks. - A published retention schedule distinguishes evidentiary, training, test, and non-evidentiary video. - Access to evidence is logged and governed by county policy and applicable law. - The program publishes aggregate mission statistics, complaints, safety events, and evaluation results without compromising cases or privacy. - Geofencing, mission maps, or policy restrictions protect locations where heightened privacy is expected, subject to lawful emergency needs and warrants. - The agency establishes a complaint and correction process. The current BJA UAS rules explicitly require adequate privacy, civil-liberties, and cybersecurity policies. Colorado lawmakers have also debated drone-privacy legislation; the official [Colorado General Assembly bill page for SB26-071](https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-071) can be cited as evidence of public interest, but the bill should not be represented as current law if it did not pass. Agency counsel should address the Fourth Amendment, warrant requirements, reasonable expectations of privacy, state law, public records, evidentiary rules, cybersecurity, and any applicable criminal-justice information requirements. The website should say “policy under development with the county,” not make a legal conclusion. --- ## 14. Existing the storage facility security system and optional demonstration The provided mobile-app screenshot shows **PTI Security Systems**, not “FTI.” It appears consistent with PTI's storage access-control ecosystem. PTI markets tenant and manager mobile tools; for example, the [StorLogix Mobile 2 listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storlogix-mobile-2/id1007572667) describes remote management of PTI access-control systems. No public developer API for the tenant-facing system has been verified in this research. PTI may offer dealer, partner, or private integrations, but the website should not claim an API exists or does not exist without written confirmation. Separately from the Sheriff's aircraft, a low-cost desktop demonstration can help the owner visualize the broader security concept: - use spare Blink or other test cameras; - show an AI assistant reviewing permitted video through a dedicated interface or controlled computer-use session; - produce a concise event timeline and report; - use a test account with the least privileges; - keep it off the live gate/payment network; - do not allow the AI to unlock gates, launch aircraft, or make law-enforcement decisions; and - clearly label the output as a demonstration requiring human review. If the PTI application has no suitable API, computer-use automation may be explored in a lab to operate the user interface. That is a separate proof of concept, not a substitute for a secure supported integration in the public-safety system. It should not become the headline of the drone grant. --- ## 15. Evaluation plan for the grant The COPS Microgrants page gives priority to a comprehensive evaluation component. The pilot should measure more than arrests or dramatic incidents. ### Operational measures - number of authorized alerts reviewed; - launch rate and reasons for non-launch; - median time from request to live aerial view; - median time from launch to arrival over incident; - flight duration, distance, and reserve at landing; - communications availability and latency; - weather cancellations; - maintenance downtime; - safe landings, aborted launches, lost-link events, and reportable incidents; - thermal and optical detection performance in controlled tests; - useful plate-image rate under defined test conditions; - mutual-aid missions; and - response coverage by sector. ### Public-safety outcomes - time saved in searches; - officer, firefighter, and responder exposure avoided; - incidents where aerial information changed dispatch or tactics; - missing or endangered persons located; - fire, hazardous-material, or disaster assessments completed; - evidence or scene documentation accepted for investigative use; and - false alarms resolved without unnecessary risky entry. ### Partnership and trust measures - host contribution and satisfaction; - customer/tenant feedback; - public comments and complaints; - privacy or unauthorized-access incidents; - number and disposition of records requests; - policy compliance from audits; - public understanding before and after outreach; and - cost per mission and estimated avoided cost. The evaluation should include a baseline period using the existing response process and a defined pilot period. A local university or independent evaluator could strengthen the design if cost and grant rules allow. --- ## 16. Public-facing website blueprint The website should be factual, locally grounded, readable on a phone, and explicit that the project is proposed. It should not look like a drone dealer's page or a finished government program. ### Recommended pages #### Home: “A locally hosted eye in the sky for public safety” - one-paragraph concept; - human-controlled launch statement; - the storage facility as proposed first host; - county-operated/public-private partnership diagram; - four main use cases; - “proposal under development” banner; and - links to aircraft options, funding, safeguards, and sources. #### Why Pueblo - current Sheriff's S.O.A.R.R. capability; - City UAV/Drone as First Responder coordination opportunity; - large county geography, wildland fire, missing persons, hazardous materials, and crime response; - reason for distributed host sites; and - how a pre-positioned aircraft can reduce response time. #### How the partnership works - county owns/operates; - facility provides site utilities and access; - human public-safety operator decides to launch; - host and customers may have limited read-only video if county policy permits; - law-enforcement missions always take priority; and - no private flight control. #### Proposed first site: the storage facility - locally owned and operated; - 24/7 gated access and existing cameras; - location and property characteristics; - what would need to be added; and - why this is only a proposal pending owner and county agreement. #### Aircraft options Use four large cards: Skyfront P8, Harris H6 Hybrid, PDW C100, and IF800/VIO. Each card should show: - a verified product image with rights/attribution; - size silhouette; - loaded or relevant endurance; - speed and wind figures; - thermal/zoom capability; - weight and likely FAA path; - public price or “quote required”; - Blue status disclaimer; - strengths; - unresolved questions; and - source links. Put VXE30, K1000ULE, and V-BAT in a collapsed “future systems” section. #### Funding plan - COPS Microgrants as primary next-cycle target; - $200,000 maximum/no-match facts for FY26 as a reference, with expired first-step date clearly shown; - JAG, SHSP, EMPG, congressional equipment request, and local/host contribution options; - $195,000 sample budget; and - a statement that no funds have been awarded. #### FAA and operations - Part 107 versus public-aircraft COA in plain language; - what the 200-foot shielded public-safety BVLOS framework is; - human decision and remote pilot; - under-55-lb design choice; - training and procedures; and - link to the FAA Public Safety Toolkit. #### Privacy and accountability - the pilot commitments listed above; - draft retention and access principles; - complaint/contact mechanism placeholder; - aggregate transparency reporting; and - “no facial recognition in pilot.” #### Timeline and participation - current research; - host conversation; - county working group; - next grant cycle; - FAA application and training; - site construction and testing; - public demonstration; and - measured pilot. #### Sources and downloadable report - this report as HTML/PDF; - direct links to official grants and FAA material; - direct links to manufacturer specifications; - “last checked” date; and - change log. ### Suggested home-page copy > **A proposed Pueblo County public-safety drone pilot** > Local businesses can host secure launch sites. Pueblo County public-safety personnel can operate long-endurance thermal drones from those sites to support searches, fire and disaster response, crimes in progress, and officer safety. The first proposed host is the well-secured storage facility in Pueblo West. Every launch would be decided and controlled by authorized public-safety personnel. This site presents options for community discussion; no aircraft has been selected and no program has been approved. ### Visual tone - local and civic, not military; - maps, simple diagrams, site photos with permission, and aircraft scale comparisons; - no dramatic weapons imagery; - plain statements of unknowns; - source links beside the claims; and - accessible color contrast and text alternatives. --- ## 17. Conversation sequence with the owner and local officials ### First conversation with the owner The goal is permission to keep developing the concept together, not a signature or financial commitment. Suggested points: - “I put the options into a neutral website so you can see what I mean and tell me what is wrong or impractical.” - “The Sheriff's Office would operate it; you and your customers would not fly it.” - “Your site could be the first proposed host because it already has controlled access, cameras, power, and a strong security use case.” - “If the county allows it, the facility could receive a read-only view during appropriate facility missions.” - “The grant and county approvals come before equipment purchases.” - “I am asking whether you will help shape the pilot-site requirements and, if it still makes sense, be named as a prospective host.” Questions for the owner: - Where on the property could a protected pad and enclosure fit? - What power and wired internet are available there? - What are the access, snow, dust, wind, lighting, drainage, and vandalism concerns? - Which existing alarms and cameras produce the most useful alerts? - What security problems matter most to him and his customers? - What limited camera view would actually be valuable? - What level of in-kind or future financial participation might be realistic if the public grant covers the public-safety system? - What would make him uncomfortable enough to stop the project? ### First county working session Ask the county to review and edit, not merely approve, the concept. The meeting should identify: - executive sponsor and responsible office; - relationship to the existing S.O.A.R.R. team; - City of Pueblo coordination; - intended first operating area; - preferred FAA path; - grant calendar and eligibility; - current policies and gaps; - acceptable host agreement structure; - budget ceiling and procurement method; - evaluation partner; and - who is authorized to speak publicly. Only after those questions are answered should the project prepare a structured request for information or government quote. --- ## 18. Risks and mitigations | Risk | Why it matters | Early mitigation | |---|---|---| | Grant cycle missed | FY26 COPS step one has passed | Prepare next cycle; check whether county already filed; pursue parallel sources | | Aircraft/payload not eligible | Blue status is configuration-specific and changes | Save current DCMA evidence; obtain award-agency written approval before purchase | | Package exceeds $200k | Camera, link, site, and training can exceed aircraft cost | Use capped line items, host-funded private elements, and reduced-scope alternate | | Aircraft weight crosses 55 lb | Changes FAA path | Weigh complete configuration; prefer base P8 or other sub-55 configuration if using Part 107 | | Remote link fails | Loss of control/video creates safety risk | Dual backhaul, local failsafes, tested lost-link routes, UPS, health monitoring | | Pueblo altitude/heat/wind reduce endurance | Brochure tests may be near sea level | Require local payload demonstration and conservative reserves | | Hybrid fuel/noise/maintenance burden | Launch-ready storage is harder than battery docking | Code-compliant enclosure, scheduled inspections, trained servicing, noise test | | Public concern over surveillance | Can stop the project or damage trust | Publish policy early, no facial recognition, limited retention, audit logs, reporting | | Host/customer feed exposes evidence | Privacy and case risk | Separate stream and accounts; county kill switch; delayed/sanitized view | | Plate-reading expectations exceed optics | Performance varies sharply | Controlled testing; publish conditions and measured results only | | Existing city/county programs overlap | Duplication weakens grant | Treat interoperability and regional coverage as design requirements | | Vendor lock-in | Proprietary controls and subscriptions can create recurring cost | Require data export, documented APIs where available, support terms, and exit plan | --- ## 19. Recommended next work products These are preparation items, not vendor outreach: 1. Build the public options website from this report. 2. Create a one-page printable concept sheet linked to the website. 3. Produce a simple map showing the storage facility and illustrative—not promised—coverage rings at conservative travel times. 4. Create an aircraft size/endurance/cost graphic using verified numbers. 5. Draft a nonbinding “prospective host site” description for the owner to edit. 6. Draft a county working-group agenda and decision checklist. 7. Build a grant calendar with lead times for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants, county approvals, letters, budget, policies, and FAA material. 8. Create a source register that records the date each Blue List status, price, and specification was checked. 9. Develop the controlled Blink-camera AI event-report demonstration as a separate, low-risk illustration for the owner. 10. After agency and host requirements are agreed, create a vendor-neutral request for information and test plan. --- ## 20. Source register ### Local partners and existing capability - the facility's public website - the facility's public website - the facility's public website - the facility's public website - [Pueblo County Sheriff's Office S.O.A.R.R. program](https://www.pueblosheriff.com/245/Patrol-Services-Division) - [Pueblo County Sheriff contact page](https://pueblocounty.gov/sheriffs-office/contact-pueblo-county-sheriff) - [KOAA: Sheriff's Aerial Response and Rescue Team](https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/pueblo-sheriffs-office-introduces-aerial-response-and-rescue-team) - [City of Pueblo UAV Unit](https://www.pueblo.us/2435/UAV-Unit) - [KOAA: City Drone as First Responder/Real Time Crime Center announcement](https://www.koaa.com/news/local-news/pueblo-police-department-launching-new-program-to-help-with-emergencies) - [Pueblo County emergency-status aerial footage example](https://pueblosheriff.org/394/Pueblo-Emergency-Status-Board) ### Federal grants and procurement rules - [COPS CPD Microgrants](https://cops.usdoj.gov/cpdmicrogrants) - [BJA UAS purchase requirements and certification](https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/uas) - [Byrne JAG archives and allocations](https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/archives) - [Colorado Homeland Security Grant Program](https://dhsem.colorado.gov/grants/grant-programs/homeland-security-grant-program) - [FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program](https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/homeland-security) - [FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant](https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/emergency-management-performance) - [DCMA Blue List portal](https://bluelist.dcma.mil/) - [DIU Blue UAS portal and transition notice](https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-portal) - [DIU announcement of Blue UAS transition to DCMA](https://www.diu.mil/latest/dius-blue-uas-list-to-transition-to-dcma) - [DCMA explanation of the Blue List process](https://www.dcma.mil/News/Article/4533954/dcma-accelerates-blue-list-process/) ### FAA operations - [FAA: Operate a Drone, Start a Public-Safety Drone Program](https://www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov/drone_program) - [FAA Public Safety Toolkit](https://www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov/public_safety_toolkit) - [FAA Part 107 waivers](https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_waivers) - [FAA public-safety BVLOS FAQ](https://www.faa.gov/faq/how-does-beyond-visual-line-sight-bvlos-currently-apply-public-safety-terms-waivers-and) - [FAA Part 91 waivers](https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/part_91_waivers) - [FAA FAQ on one COA covering multiple departments](https://www.faa.gov/faq/can-single-government-entity-create-certificate-waiver-or-authorization-coa-covers-all) - [FAA small-UAS Part 107 overview](https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/small-unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-regulations-part-107) ### Aircraft and payloads - [Skyfront Perimeter 8 specifications and starting price](https://skyfront.com/perimeter-8) - [Skyfront surveillance and security](https://skyfront.com/solutions/surveillance-and-security) - [Harris Aerial Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI specifications](https://harrisaerial.com/carrier-drones/carrier-h6-hybrid/) - [Harris Aerial maintenance and support](https://support.harrisaerial.com/maintenance-repairs/) - [PDW C100 Public Safety](https://www.pdw.ai/products/c100-public-safety) - [Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat](https://www.inspiredflight.com/if800) - [Inspired Flight IF800 loaded endurance information](https://shop.inspiredflight.com/products/if800-tomcat) - [Inspired Flight IF800 technical specifications](https://docs.inspiredflight.com/inspired-documentation/products/aircraft/if800-tomcat/if800-tomcat-overview/if800-specifications) - [Inspired Flight IF1200](https://www.inspiredflight.com/if1200) - [Gremsy VIO F1 technical documentation](https://docs.gremsy.com/payloads/vio/general) - [Trillium HD45 Green UAS certification with Perimeter 8/8+](https://www.trilliumeng.com/news/trillium-engineerings-hd45-gimbal-achieves-auvsi-green-uas-certification) - [VXE30 Stalker](https://www.avinc.com/uas/vxe30) - [K1000ULE](https://www.khaero.com/k1000ule) - [Shield AI V-BAT](https://shield.ai/v-bat/) ### Existing storage-system and policy context - [PTI StorLogix Mobile 2 app listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storlogix-mobile-2/id1007572667) - [Colorado General Assembly SB26-071 bill history](https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-071) --- ## 21. Machine-readable handoff for another AI ```yaml project_name: Pueblo County Distributed Public-Safety Drone Pilot document_date: 2026-08-23 current_stage: research_for_public_options_website next_action: build_public_website do_not_do_next: contact_vendors proposed_first_host: name: a well-secured storage facility (name withheld at this stage) contact_name: (withheld; the facility's owner) address: Pueblo West, CO status: prospective_only existing_features: - locally_owned - gated - individual_access_codes - 24_7_access - 24_7_video_security - power_and_possible_internet public_operator: preferred: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office or designated county public-safety entity owns_or_controls_aircraft: true signs_grant_and_faa_documents: true designates_responsible_person: true selects_and_supervises_pilots: true outside_research_helper: assists_with_research_and_paperwork: true responsible_person: false pilot: false signer: false operational_authority: false flight_model: alarm_or_request_may_trigger_human_review: true human_public_safety_operator_decides_launch: true remote_controlled_launch: true ai_autonomous_law_enforcement_launch: false host_or_customer_flight_control: false host_read_only_camera_view: proposed_subject_to_county_policy procurement_constraints: chinese_aircraft: excluded dji: excluded current_dcma_blue_configuration_required: true compactness_required: false landed_camera_watch_required: false robotic_recharging_required: false thermal_resolution_target: 640x512_or_better visible_optical_zoom_required: true total_grant_reference_cap_usd: 200000 target_total_project_usd: 175000_to_195000 aircraft_payload_gcs_target_usd: 85000 candidate_ranking: - name: Skyfront Perimeter 8 role: leading_value_candidate base_price_public_usd: 49900 endurance_no_payload: 5_hours endurance_with_5kg: 2_hours max_speed: 36_mph max_tested_wind: 25_plus_mph mtow: 51_lb - name: Harris Aerial Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI role: leading_alternative base_price: quote_required_estimate_about_40000 endurance_no_payload: 240_minutes endurance_with_2kg: 185_minutes endurance_with_5kg: 100_minutes max_speed: 33.6_mph mtow: 25_kg_slightly_above_55_lb - name: PDW C100 Public Safety role: mid_endurance_integrated_option endurance_with_isr: 74_minutes max_speed: 40_mph price: quote_required - name: Inspired Flight IF800 plus Gremsy VIO F1 role: budget_fallback endurance_with_payload: over_40_minutes max_speed: 49_mph thermal: 640x512 price_class: 25000_to_40000_package_planning_range funding_priority: - program: COPS_CPD_Microgrants max_usd: 200000 performance_months: 24 match_required: false_for_FY26 FY26_step1_deadline: 2026-08-17 FY26_step2_deadline: 2026-08-24 FY26_status: unavailable_to_new_applicant_if_step1_not_already_submitted - program: Byrne_JAG uas_prior_approval_required: true - program: Colorado_SHSP_HSGP route: regional_coordinator - program: FEMA_EMPG role: secondary_planning_training_integration - program: COPS_Technology_and_Equipment route: future_congressional_community_project website_pages: - home - why_pueblo - partnership_model - first_pilot_site - aircraft_options - funding_plan - faa_and_operations - privacy_and_accountability - timeline - sources_and_downloads public_commitments: - human_decides_every_launch - authorized_public_safety_pilots_only - no_facial_recognition_in_pilot - no_sale_of_imagery - role_based_access_and_audit_logs - read_only_host_view_if_approved - law_enforcement_priority_and_kill_switch - published_retention_policy - aggregate_transparency_reporting unknowns_to_preserve: - exact_grant_cycle - exact_dcma_list_configuration - configured_vendor_prices - part_107_vs_public_aircraft_path - operating_area_and_airspace - remote_launch_enclosure_design - local_payload_endurance - host_customer_video_policy - maintenance_and_refueling_model ``` --- ## 22. Final handoff instruction An AI or designer using this document should build a transparent community options website—not a procurement page and not a claim that the county or the storage facility has approved the project. Preserve the distinction between verified facts, planning estimates, proposals, and open questions. Put direct source links beside specifications and grant statements. Date every time-sensitive claim. Present Skyfront P8 and Harris H6 as the leading long-endurance options, with PDW C100 and IF800/VIO as fallbacks. Keep the proposed human-commanded operating model prominent. Do not add autonomous launch language, private flight control, facial recognition, weapons, or claims of guaranteed plate reading.