Florida Poly makes history with first flying police vehicle

LAKELAND, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department has become the first law enforcement agency in the nation to integrate an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle into its operations.

The manned aircraft, dubbed Astro in a double nod to science and the dog from the classic Jetsons cartoon, marks Florida Poly's entry into the rapidly developing field of advanced air mobility (AAM), creating new opportunities to explore how the emerging technology can support public safety.

"Advanced air mobility is a technology on the rise, and we can either choose to be proactive or reactive as it develops," said Aaron Murray, the University's police chief. "We want to stay at the forefront of this technology and understand how it can be used to advance public safety and airspace safety altogether."

Florida Poly is in the final stages of seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the aerial patrol vehicle in its operations. Murray said Astro can enhance the department's ability to monitor campus and surrounding acres, reach areas difficult to access by traditional vehicles, assist with post-storm recovery efforts and deliver emergency supplies quickly when needed.

The University Police plans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to deploy Astro in support of emergency response and other public safety operations.

First in the U.S.
Stéphan D'haene, CEO of Jetson, said the California-based company fast-tracked Florida Poly's order of the Jetson ONE vehicle despite a three-year waiting list because of the University's STEM focus and the police department's public safety purpose, both of which reflect Jetson's goals for the future of safe flight.

"In our business plan and in alignment with our mission, we have always been looking for the use case beyond the recreational intent," D'haene said. "We believe that this project is so important and aligns so much with what we want to do that we made it a priority."

A new educational horizon
Beyond its public safety applications, Astro will become a hands-on learning and research tool for Florida Poly students and faculty. The University launched its new aerospace engineering degree this fall, providing students an immediate opportunity to study emerging flight technology in a real-world setting.

"At Florida Poly, we want our students working with emerging technologies before they become commonplace," said Dr. Brad Thiessen, Florida Poly's provost. "Astro gives our students and faculty a living laboratory where they can analyze real-world data, tackle new engineering challenges and help shape the future of advanced air mobility."

Faculty and students are already coordinating efforts to use real-time operational data from Astro for academic research and senior capstone design projects.

"Connecting an educational component to this technology is a big deal," Murray said. "We are a technology university, and this aerial vehicle delivers more opportunities to learn, build partnerships and explore ways to keep our airspace safe, while connecting the work of our police department directly with our students."

Technology takes flight
The introduction of the Astro flying police vehicle is the latest example of Florida Poly putting emerging technology into practice across campus. The University recently added a drone unit for its police department and a student-powered Security Operations Center for cybersecurity.

"There are a lot of things that people once looked at as recreational vehicles that are incredible tools in our profession now," Murray said. "People used to think that bicycles, motorcycles and drones were all just toys or hobbies, but look at the huge impact they have made on our law enforcement profession."

Astro's arrival also comes as AAM gains momentum across the state, particularly in Central Florida.

Florida was recently selected to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration's eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, designed to safely integrate next-generation aircraft into the national airspace. The SunTrax facility in Auburndale, Florida, located only four miles away from Florida Poly, is home to the nation's first dedicated AAM aerial test track, with eVTOL testing expected to begin by the end of 2026.

SOURCE Florida Polytechnic University