Axon Year in Review: Explore the latest innovations improving public safety and security around the world
At the end of each year, Axon recaps some of the biggest advancements in the world of public safety technology. Take a look at five of the giant leaps we took in 2024 to protect more lives in more places.
GIANT LEAP #5 - NEXT-GENERATION DFR
Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs first took to the sky in 2018, beginning with a groundbreaking initiative at Chula Vista Police Department in California. In 2024, Axon introduced Axon Air DFR, a solution designed to provide scalable DFR technology to agencies of all sizes.
Axon Air DFR is a comprehensive offering that includes hardware, software, training and regulatory services. At its core are two cutting-edge hardware components: the Skydio X10 and DedroneBeyond.
The Skydio X10 is a secure, American-made, NDAA-compliant autonomous aircraft built specifically for first responders, offering unmatched reliability and performance.
DedroneBeyond enables drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without relying on human visual observers. By delivering continuous airspace awareness, it ensures safe and reliable operations, enhancing the speed and efficiency of emergency response efforts.
DedroneBeyond became an integral part of Axon Air DFR following Axon’s acquisition of Dedrone, the global leader in airspace awareness and security, in October 2024.
To learn more about Axon Air DFR, explore Axon’s guide to elevating real-time operations or watch the Axon Air DFR Webinar.
Agencies transitioning to Axon Air may qualify for purchasing credits through the Axon SkySwap Program. Future-proof your DFR program today.
GIANT LEAP #4 - MOBILE-FIRST POLICING
Police officers are constantly on the go, so it makes sense to provide them the option to securely complete common evidence and records management tasks via their mobile devices. To fulfill this need, in 2024, Axon launched the Axon app for both iOS and Android.
The Axon app provides users with secure, mobile access to key features of Axon Evidence, Axon Records, Axon Standards and Axon Performance. Built with a simple, mobile-friendly design, the app highlights key workflows, enabling users to easily initiate and complete tasks without frequent trips back to the station.
With the Axon app, users can:
Search, playback and edit digital evidence
Complete video and call for service reviews
Initiate the collection of community evidence
Search, write, edit and submit reports—all from the field
The Axon app is built with security in mind, and is even FedRAMP authorized, meaning Axon’s federal partners can take advantage of these mobile workflows. To learn more about the app, including its security features, read Going Mobile: 4 things to know about the new Axon app.
What do customers have to say about the app?
“It’s a boost in quality of life for an officer. You come to work and it's a tool that you can use to just make your day go a little smoother and we can all appreciate that.” —Fresno PD
“From the moment of set up to starting to use the app, it was a really easy process. Enabling the ability to access evidence whilst in the field via the mobile app saves me considerable time and effort to make my job easier. It’s quick to search and find videos...Overall the app is user friendly and a fantastic bit of tech” —Western Australia Police Force
“Doing reports on my phone and/or iPad is a 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!” —Baton Rouge PD
GIANT LEAP #3 - PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION
As public safety technology continues to advance, there are new opportunities for the private sector to enhance safety and protect more lives in more places. The Axon Ecosystem for Enterprise extends the same trusted Axon technology used by public safety agencies to private security, healthcare and retail teams, enabling seamless collaboration with law enforcement when it matters most.
The Axon Enterprise team kicked off 2024 with the launch of Axon Body Workforce, Axon’s first body-worn camera designed specifically for frontline workers. The lightweight Axon Body Workforce allows enterprise employees to easily document incidents throughout their shift without restricting mobility or interfering with their work—offering a practical solution for protecting employees in industries that face elevated risks.
A cornerstone of real-time situational awareness for enterprises is Axon Fusus, a Security Operations Center (SOC) in the cloud. Axon Fusus integrates private-sector security operations by connecting existing security technologies—such as cameras, sensors, and alarms—into a centralized platform. During critical incidents, businesses can securely share this data with public safety agencies, enabling faster and more coordinated responses.
In building out a comprehensive physical security operating system for public and private collaboration, the Axon Enterprise team announced strategic partnerships with LiveView Technologies (LVT) and Auror in 2024. These partnerships are designed to enhance real-time situational awareness and incident response, further strengthening safety capabilities in private-sector markets.
The progress made in the enterprise space in 2024 highlights a pivotal shift toward building safer workplaces and reinforces the idea that public safety technology isn’t limited to first responders. Looking ahead, the integration of private-sector technology with public safety systems will continue to strengthen, fostering improved collaboration, proactive incident prevention, and safer environments for employees, customers and communities.
GIANT LEAP #2 - INTEROPERABLE RTCC TECHNOLOGY
RTCCs have played a vital role in public safety since their inception in 2005, providing agencies with the tools to gather and integrate information from a wide array of sources, such as CCTV and body-worn cameras, DFR drones and Dedrone, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, shot detection and alarm systems, and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software. In 2024, open and decentralized RTCC ecosystems began redefining how agencies access and share critical information.
Unlike traditional RTCCs that depend on fixed physical spaces, cloud-based platforms like Axon Fusus redefine the model with a decentralized approach. This innovation empowers agencies to access and manage critical, real-time data from virtually anywhere. With Axon Fusus, officers can view live camera feeds and other real-time information directly on their mobile devices, keeping them connected and informed in the field. Moreover, the platform facilitates seamless information sharing across jurisdictions, enabling faster, more coordinated joint response efforts.
The interoperable architecture of Axon Fusus, driven by open APIs, offers agencies unparalleled flexibility to tailor their RTCCs to meet unique operational requirements. This adaptability, paired with reduced physical infrastructure needs, makes cloud-based RTCCs more accessible and cost-effective—especially for smaller agencies. By lowering barriers to adoption, Axon Fusus represents a significant step in democratizing access to advanced public safety technology.
Explore Axon’s vision for RTCCs and Axon Fusus in The Axon Ecosystem: Experience the Axon Ecosystem in Real-Time:
GIANT LEAP #1 - AI IN POLICING
There is perhaps no technology with greater potential to impact the public safety space than artificial intelligence (AI). AI has been a core part of the Axon Ecosystem for years, but 2024 marked a turning point. This was the year AI’s capabilities reached new heights, becoming a central focus not only for Axon but for the entire public safety industry.
LAUNCH OF DRAFT ONE
2024 also saw the launch of Draft One, Axon’s groundbreaking AI-powered report-writing solution. Draft One is designed to help officers reclaim valuable time by automating much of the report creation process, allowing them to focus on what matters most: serving their communities.
For more information, visit axon.com/draft-one or read A closer look at Draft One.
What do customers have to say about Draft One?
“There’s a plethora of things that you can do with that extra hour or two hours in a 12 hour period.” —Lafayette PD
“I see no case in which I wouldn't use [Draft One]” —Lafayette PD
“I'm absolutely stunned by the quality of the reports. It's the most exciting piece of technology I've seen in years.” —Fort Collins PD
REVAMPED REDACTION
Advancements in AI drove significant updates to Axon’s redaction tools, enhancing speed, accuracy, and usability. These improvements help agencies save time while ensuring compliance with legal and privacy requirements.
Purpose-built assistants within Redaction Studio automate and streamline the most repetitive and time-consuming steps in video redaction, improving agencies’ ability to redact, manage, and share files. This enhances response times for FOIA and public records requests, helps eliminate overwhelming backlogs, and allows agencies to better serve their communities.
Thanks in large part to these enhancements, total redaction time can be reduced by up to 70%, allowing personnel to focus on other mission-critical tasks.
RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION FRAMEWORK
As public safety technology becomes more advanced, leveraging tools like AI algorithms, Axon believed it was important to publish a Responsible Innovation Framework to guide the development of its technology solutions.
This framework was developed with input from industry experts, academics, policymakers, public safety officials, and community representatives. It is designed to "guide the development and deployment of technologies in a way that is ethical, inclusive, and sustainable."
Axon's commitment to responsible innovation is exemplified in products that utilize AI—such as Draft One, which is designed with several safeguards to ensure accuracy and mitigate risks. The Responsible Innovation Framework will continue to play a critical role in guiding the development of future Axon technologies, including several new AI solutions slated for launch in 2025 and beyond.
For more in-depth information about Axon AI solutions and Axon’s new AI Era Plan, read Axon ignites the intelligence revolution for public safety at IACP 2024.
The era of AI is truly just beginning at Axon, so keep an eye out for exciting announcements in this space over the coming months. Still have questions about Axon’s vision for AI and the future of law enforcement technology? Check out axon.com/ai or watch the video below to hear more about Axon’s vision for responsible innovation in public safety:
Conclusion
2024 marked a year of transformative progress in public safety technology. Solutions like cloud-based RTCCs and AI-powered tools streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and drive better outcomes for first responders, frontline workers, and the communities they protect.
As technology continues to evolve, Axon remains focused on creating solutions that prioritize ethical and responsible innovation while meeting the diverse needs of public safety agencies. The future of public safety lies in collaboration—between the public and private sectors, between agencies and the people they serve, and between technology providers and first responders working tirelessly to keep others safe. By working together, society can ensure that those who dedicate their lives to protecting others have the tools, resources and support they need to protect more lives in more places.