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Minnesota business sells newest tech from robotic dogs to drones
Maverick Drone Systems says its tech makes work easier for farmers and safer for first responders.
SAVAGE, Minn. — The latest technology is “taking off” from a Savage-based business and it’s being used for everything from agriculture to public safety.
Then again, some of it’s just for fun.
The Unitree Go1, for example, is a robotic dog that can roll over, follow humans, climb stairs and even dance. With cameras for eyes, the furless pups are manufactured in China and are sold locally at Maverick Drone Systems for around $4,500.
“It’s just a really fun toy,” marketing director Oscar Salinas said. “More of the consumer level, kind of show off to your friends that you got a nifty cool dog.”
As their name suggests, Maverick Drone Systems also sell drones. Agriculture sales representative Jay Sorg says their agricultural drones are making work more efficient for farmers.
“I grew up on a dairy farm in Hastings, Minnesota, and I still farm with my dad,” Sorg said. “So with farmers, say we get an inch of rain and you want to apply fungicide to go out there with a wheel, a wheeled machine, you don’t want to be on that field when it’s wet. So with this drone, you don’t have to be in the field. You’re above the field.”
Sorg says the drones can also save farmers money.
“Doing this yourself, versus paying a helicopter or plane to do your air application or hiring a ground rig from a co-op to do it, this machine pays for itself after you applicate 4,000 acres of fungicide,” he said. “We’ve had quite a few customers. You know, they buy one and they do their own, and then all of a sudden, they’re doing their neighbor’s and so it’s an opportunity for them to branch out and offer services to the community.”
The agricultural drones are in high demand. Their latest shipment brought 40 boxes of the newest model to the store.
“These weigh about 60, 75 pounds with the battery in them, empty, and then their max takeoff weight is 190 pounds,” Sorg said. “They treat you just like a crop duster, the FAA does, because you are technically an aircraft in the air.”
Maverick stocks replacement parts in store, with plans to offer repairs in the future. They already offer commercial drone repairs.
In addition to farmers, first responders are customers. Specifically, police departments are purchasing tactical drones.
“Pretty much all of the metro is using it now,” said Tony Caspers, the company’s new public safety director. “St. Paul Police just came on board.”
Caspers has a background in law enforcement. He says this type of technology can make certain situations safer for both law enforcement and the public.
“I retired just recently with 32 years and I served in the Minneapolis Police Department,” Caspers said. “The biggest thing with the drones is de-escalation, right? Instead of putting a police officer that’s armed in front of somebody that’s, you know, having a really bad day, they can come in with the drone.
“The other thing on this is also just efficiency of our job,” he continued. “You can actually map a crime scene down to the centimeter. So we’re no longer running tape measures and spending hours on a scene. We can take this out of the car crash, we can map and 3D map and print the whole car crash within 5 minutes instead of closing a freeway down for hours.”
And it turns out the robotic dog isn’t all play.
“It ranges from entry-level all the way up to tactical,” Salinas explained.
The tactical version can scan buildings like schools and memorize layouts, creating a ready-to-go map that could help during emergencies.
“So the robot dog … that’s going to be more inside and controlled environments where you can’t maybe fly,” Caspers said. “Just set the dog up and let it monitor something in a hallway. So now you have a camera sitting in a hallway and you can move it as you need to.”
“Not as cute [as a K9], but you don’t have to feed it or clean up after it.”
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The “Westopolis” name is meant to highlight the cities’ vibrancy and proximity to Minneapolis.
The marketing and tourism organization formerly known as Discover St. Louis Park has rebranded this fall with a bold, new name:
The organization, which launched in 2011 and grew to also incorporate Golden Valley in 2017, began using the “Westopolis” name this month. According to Westopolis President and CEO Becky Bakken, the name is designed to highlight the vibrancy and urban character of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, which both border Minneapolis and have a combined population of nearly 75,000.
“A lot is behind the name,” Bakken said. “Westopolis just kept speaking to us. In this process, we really leaned into the fact that we are the closest neighbor to downtown Minneapolis. To be honest, we are closer to downtown than parts of Minneapolis are. And it really felt like our primary differentiator.”
Bakken said the change to “Westopolis” is also meant to help the organization communicate better with event planners and out-of-town vendors, who sometimes confuse “St. Louis Park” with St. Louis, MO. Between St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, the cities boast nine hotels with nearly 1,500 combined rooms, and the tourism organization now known as Westopolis plays a key role in drawing visitors and filling those rooms.
“When people are looking for a place to go, that aren’t from this area, they know the big city. They know Minneapolis. We wanted to make sure they knew how close we were to that, and once they’re here they discover all the other things,” Bakken said. “The name is unique, it’s different. It’s not on a map, we understand that. We think the name is edgy, and when we’re working with planners, they’re gonna lean in and say, ‘tell me more about this place.'”
This week, Westopolis is enjoying a nice boost from the Twin Cities Film Fest, a staple of St. Louis Park that draws talent and crew members to the city’s West End from across the country. It’s the kind of annual event that Westopolis would love to see more of in the coming years.
“The West End was sort of the rationale for why Discover St. Louis Park — and now Westopolis — exists. It’s this great area that is a real driver for visitors,” Bakken said. “But both communities have their thing. Golden Valley has a big chunk of Theodore Wirth that we love to claim, and Brookview that has a lot of outdoor activities, so we really like to lean into this urban oasis.”
To unveil the new brand, Westopolis rolled out a website and held a launch party this fall.
“Change is change, and that’s always interesting,” Bakken said, “but mostly people are really excited about the new name and we’re ready to market the new name.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
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