Since late 2012, the Department of Homeland Security has been evaluating small drones for public safety applications. One of the sites for the testing program is an urban obstacle course dubbed "Liberty City."

Like its Grand Theft Auto namesake, the feds' Liberty City offers challenges to be tackled by joysticks and buttons. But the goal at the drone evaluation site is to impress public safety officials, rather than outrun and outgun them.

Liberty City is one of several sites used by the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) evaluation program, an initiative spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division. Documents released last month in response to a Freedom of Information Act request show that RAPS traces back to 2009, when a sheriff asked DHS for help deciding which drone model on the market would best suit his department's needs.