Reminiscent of KITT from the 1980’s TV series “Knight Rider,” Microsoft’s Advanced Patrol Platform (MAPP) car has it all – drone included. The MAPP car is designed to provide police officers with all of the information that they need in one elegant interface, built into a patrol car and accessible on an officer’s mobile device. The list of information available to police personnel through the interface is formidable: the system includes dispatch communications, driving directions, suspect histories, a voice-activated license plate reader, a missing persons list, location-based crime bulletins, and shift reports.

Now, Microsoft announced yesterday, it will include an Aeryon Labs drone to provide aerial imagery. Canadian drone manufacturer Aeryon Labs will provide its SkyRanger™ drone to the MAPP cars, which will provide aerial views to the integrated data platform, allowing officers to assess ongoing situations in real time, or to gather forensic evidence from a crime scene.

The SkyRanger is a vertical takeoff and landing drone, with a 50 minute flight time. The product description states that it offers single-operator transport and deployment, and is ideal for government and commercial use due to its stability in high winds and adverse conditions.

“Law enforcement organizations throughout the world rely on Aeryon sUAS to collect aerial intelligence wherever and whenever they need it,” said Dave Kroetsch, president and CEO of Aeryon Labs Inc. “Including SkyRanger within the MAPP vehicle rounds out the comprehensive suite of technologies and highlights the value of aerial intelligence for ground-based personnel.”

Microsoft introduced the MAPP vehicle last July at the FBI National Academy Associates Conference.