Next Step for Drones: Defending Against Them...WSJ Article

[PaulMuns]

Big article in the Wall Street Journal (online edition) today about several defense companies developing anti drone defensive weapon systems for our hobby drones. In the related video, they shoot down a Phantom with a laser...melts the core of it and goes down in flames. They claim they can hit our birds at 500M. They primarily mention European countries tackling the problem but do mention one US company.

Here is the link, but you probably have to be a subscriber to read the story. I could probably cut and paste if people are interested in reading.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/next-step-for-drones-defending-against-them-1437645600


Video Link (works) What is the Lime Green Phantom?
http://on.wsj.com/1OnumUq

 

[Deleted member 29014]

LOL. not sure what the purpose would be for civilian UAVs, heck all it takes is a good .22 rifle... but thanks for the story, Paul.

 

[N017RW]

Isn't illegal to shoot at, let alone down, any aircaft in the USNAS?

This is an advertisement.

 

[RoyVa]

As of right now it is still called air space and we are allowed to fly in it except for no fly or restricted zones. The U.S. Law books still list this a private property and it is illegal to shoot the, down. The same goes both ways. A drone crashes into something and causes damage they need the owner. Someone shoots one down you need the shooter. But the law is still the law.

 

[Deleted member 29014]

Wouldn't a cop's traffic radar gun have the same effect? The K band frequency is 24.150 GHz ±100 MHz but harmonics may affect the Phantom...?

 

[PaulMuns]

The article was about protecting airspace around airports, military bases, sports arenas and other secure areas. It mentioned DJI and their no fly zones in the software. It said they were easily bypassed.

 

[PaulMuns]

One system they showed had a truck mounted radar that detects the intruder. Then a hi tech camera gives a visual where the operator can fire a GPS jammer to drop the drone.

 

[snerd]

One system they showed had a truck mounted radar that detects the intruder. Then a hi tech camera gives a visual where the operator can fire a GPS jammer to drop the drone.

Quick! Switch to ATTI mode!!

 

[SteveMann]

One system they showed had a truck mounted radar that detects the intruder. Then a hi tech camera gives a visual where the operator can fire a GPS jammer to drop the drone.

I really doubt they would use a GPS jammer for a few reasons. first it would be illegal:

18 U.S.C. § 1362 - prohibits willful or malicious interference to US government communications. (The USAF owns the GPS satellites)
18 U.S.C. § 1367(a) - prohibits intentional or malicious interference to satellite communications.
47 U.S.C. § 333 - "[n]o person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this Act or operated by the United States Government."​

Second, Air Traffic Control is moving to GPS-based systems to eventually replace the network of VOR stations. The airlines are already using the Next-Gen systems because it permits shorter, more direct routing. So a GPS jammer could endanger aircraft in their range.

 

[PaulMuns]

I really doubt they would use a GPS jammer for a few reasons. first it would be illegal:

18 U.S.C. § 1362 - prohibits willful or malicious interference to US government communications. (The USAF owns the GPS satellites)
18 U.S.C. § 1367(a) - prohibits intentional or malicious interference to satellite communications.
47 U.S.C. § 333 - "[n]o person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this Act or operated by the United States Government."​

Second, Air Traffic Control is moving to GPS-based systems to eventually replace the network of VOR stations. The airlines are already using the Next-Gen systems because it permits shorter, more direct routing. So a GPS jammer could endanger aircraft in their range.

Except the article is referring to military or law enforcement solutions to drones. Not the jerk neighbor next door.

 

[PaulMuns]

Quick! Switch to ATTI mode!!

The article did mention that some might RTH rather than crash with jammed GPS.

 

[IrishSights]

Makes more sense to RTH as you then follow and catch the offender/operator

 

[Deleted member 29014]

Thanks to the current epidemic of stupidity around airports we may see some trials soon of radio frequency jamming devices around major airports. The tempo is rising and you all know how the feds love to overreact...

 

[Paul Leishman]

That will be interesting when all the wifi and communications stops also when they implement this system.

 

[Deleted member 29014]

That will be interesting when all the wifi and communications stops also when they implement this system.

ah, always drama. you can't live w/o wifi for 2 seconds? newsflash-Cell jamming devices already exist.

 

[TulsaReiner]

On this morning's Bloomberg.com website, the following article appeared re consumer drones and our military's fear of them being used by terrorists to deliver weapons:
The Pentagon Takes Aim at Bomb-Carrying Consumer Drones