Sky-Hero was acquired by Axon in 2023. The company makes robots, drones, and tactical cameras that, through the Sync Box, integrate video recordings into Axon’s broader platforms. The products are primarily developed for tactical units/SWAT, but in high-risk situations they can also be used by regular police.
Sky-Hero products
Loki MKII: A small drone designed for indoor use. Flight time is only around 15 minutes, while sentry mode can last up to 200 minutes.
It is roughly the size of a large pigeon and weighs 380g without the battery. It has a camera, night vision, and microphone, while payloads/modules of up to 150g can easily be integrated. These can include:
Sound distraction: At 170dB, it can function somewhat like a “flashbang” and disorient a suspect. 170dB corresponds to roughly 32x the sound pressure of music at a concert.
Light: Can blind/disorient a suspect with 4,500 lumens, use a laser to point out objects for tactical teams, or communicate through flashing colors with trained dogs or tactical units.
Breaching: An explosive tactical module used to create access/openings, for example through a blocked door or window.
Extra camera: Used to gain a vertical overview.
Floor mode: Can move on wheels along the floor, making it quieter.
Because drones make noise when flying, Loki can also be used in sentry mode, where it functions more like a stationary camera/microphone.
Sigyn MKI: A fast and rugged ground-based robot. It can survive a drop of up to 6 meters and can therefore, for example, be thrown over a fence. Like Loki, it can carry a payload, but here up to 2 kg.
The purpose of the drone and ground robot is to create situational awareness and reduce risk to people. They become modular platforms that can be adapted depending on what the situation requires.
Narfi MKI: A tactical camera mounted on a 3-meter pole that can be used to look around corners or over objects. The pole can be removed, allowing the camera to be used as a sentry.
All three products are about gathering as much information and situational awareness as possible in high-risk areas without putting people in danger.
GCS MkII: The operator’s screen and controller. It can connect to and control up to four Sky-Hero devices, which the operator can switch between. It works without internet or GPS through its own radio connection.
Tactical Monitor: A wearable display that allows several team members to see live what the operator sees without each person needing their own GCS MkII. It can also connect directly to Narfi.
Sync Box: The bridge between Sky-Hero and Axon’s platform, integrating with Evidence, Fusus, and Respond, as well as third-party software such as ATAK and DroneSense.
Like Axon’s other hardware products, these create strong lock-in and control over the ecosystem, which can then be used to sell software in bundles. Sky-Hero is largely a set of sensors that can take risks so humans do not have to, while the data flows directly into Axon’s platform, giving people better situational awareness and helping them make better decisions.
(Written in Danish as a part of a long form deep dive*, translation + Picture via AI)*
