Explore how the Hudson Police Department is using advanced drone and IP-video technology from LiveU to boost situational awareness, streamline operations, and enhance public safety across a range of community events and emergency responses.
Once known as a quiet mill town, Hudson, Massachusetts has evolved into a thriving community of 20,000 residents with a dynamic downtown and active civic life. At the heart of this transformation is the Hudson Police Department, which has embraced advanced technology to strengthen public safety and deepen community engagement.
An innovation in the department’s toolkit is its use of drones, now enhanced by LiveU’s IP-video technology. By integrating LiveU’s field encoder with DJI Matrice 30T and Mavic 3T drones, Hudson PD has significantly improved its situational awareness, responsiveness, and ability to collaborate in real time with external agencies. The LiveU Video Return platform allows for secure video streaming to command centers, mobile devices, and even external stakeholders during joint operations, with full control over who has access and for how long.
From crowd monitoring at major events like the Pan-Mass Challenge to streamlining response during arrest and search warrant operations, the technology has become an integral part of Hudson PD’s mission. The system’s DataBridge mode ensures reliable connectivity even during high-demand scenarios, such as parades or emergencies where bandwidth is limited.
One notable incident involved a drone deployment following a report of suspicious activity near a string of car thefts. The real-time aerial video revealed the situation was harmless, just local youths playing hide-and-seek, allowing officers to de-escalate quickly and efficiently.
Hudson PD’s use of drones and LiveU solutions has delivered faster response times, improved decision-making, and better resource allocation, all while maintaining public trust and officer safety.
