The Chula Vista Police Department has put a proposed drone contract on hold, citing a desire to evaluate other technologies — but the company behind the contract has a controversial history with data-sharing and surveillance practices.
The department was preparing to bring forward a contract with Aerodome’s DFR (Drone-As-First-Responder) Telepresence Platform, which uses unmanned drones that fly autonomously, eliminating the need for a pilot.
According to a July city staff report, the contract could have saved Chula Vista about $1.2 million a year. Aerodome’s contract for the first year would have cost about $400,000…