Public safety technology provider Versaterm has acquired DroneSense, a drone management software company, in a move that positions the combined entity as a leader in integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into emergency response workflows.
The acquisition aims to make drone deployment as routine as dispatching traditional first responder units, according to Versaterm.
The acquisition brings together Versaterm’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Incident Command and Control systems with DroneSense’s hardware-agnostic drone management platform. The integration will allow public safety agencies to deploy drones seamlessly alongside patrol cars, fire trucks, and ambulances, providing real-time aerial intelligence from the moment an emergency call is received.
“This acquisition moves us closer to a future where drones are as routine as any patrol or fire unit,” said Warren Loomis, president and CEO of Versaterm. “Adding DroneSense expands the capabilities we can offer agencies to deploy aerial support as part of response, delivering new ways to visualize complex scenes, respond with greater precision and keep both responders and communities safe.”
The combined platform addresses a key challenge that has slowed adoption of drone as first responder (DFR) programs: operational complexity. By embedding drone management directly into existing dispatch systems, agencies can eliminate the technical barriers that previously required specialized training and separate workflows for aerial operations.
DroneSense’s platform supports both locally piloted missions and remote drone deployments, offering live streaming capabilities and real-time collaboration across multiple teams and jurisdictions. The system includes compliance tools that help agencies navigate regulatory requirements while maintaining full data ownership and control.
“DroneSense was built to give public safety teams a smarter, faster way to use drones when every second counts,” said Christopher Eyhorn, CEO of DroneSense. “Joining Versaterm allows us to bring that vision to more agencies, with deeper integration into the systems they already rely on.”
The acquisition comes as public safety agencies increasingly recognize drones’ potential for enhancing situational awareness while improving responder safety. Aerial units can provide critical intelligence before ground units arrive at potentially dangerous scenes, from active shooter situations to natural disasters.
The integrated solution is designed to work with various drone models and third-party systems, built on enterprise-grade cybersecurity infrastructure to meet public safety data protection standards. This compatibility approach allows agencies to leverage existing drone investments while accessing enhanced operational capabilities through unified command and control systems.
