Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
This gun can stop small rogue drones without destroying them — Parallax Forums

This gun can stop small rogue drones without destroying them

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2016-04-27 16:08 in General Discussion
https://www.yahoo.com/technology/news/gun-stop-small-rogue-drones-211732768.html

http://mashable.com/2016/01/30/drone-gun/


We've seen a couple of brute force anti-drone devices designed to snatch the tiny machines out of the sky, but Battelle's DroneDefender is one of the first to do it with an invisible beam delivered in an ultraportable, gun-like form.

The device uses radio control frequency disruption to halt and bring down drones in a way that keeps the drone intact while preventing it from setting off any kind of self-destruct sequence.
Capable of five hours of continuous use, the device has a range of 400 meters and jams ISM bands (radio frequencies reserved for industrial, scientific and medical devices) and GPS signals. A look at a brief video demonstration (below) shows a user targeting and bringing down a small drone with ease, just outside of what looks like a guarded facility.

Comments

  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    A great demonstration of why a drone near commercial aircraft is really a non issue.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    Any reason why the drone could not have on board software to reverse course or self destruct once it lost comms with the controller?
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    Not really, just wait until a good sized drone gets sucked into a jet engine.

    Still the jammer is a great idea, sadly only the government will be the only customer because of FCC regs.




  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    How does the jammer initiate a "safe landing"? Do all drones really have an automatic "land safely now" mode hidden in the firmware when the remote signal is lost and GPS signal cannot be acquired?
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    I wonder if this might be a hoax...


    http://mashable.com/2016/01/30/drone-gun/
    However, the anti-drone device, which was unveiled back in October, mysteriously disappeared from public view soon after. A visit to Battelle online reveals that the device has been entirely scrubbed from the company's website. When we attempted to contact the company to ask questions, we received an automated reply that confirmed the removal of the DroneDefender, as well as a hint as to why it was removed.

    "FCC regulations (47 CFR 15) prohibit the marketing or sale of this device to entities other than U.S. Government agencies," reads the statement. "We are examining ITAR [International Traffic in Arms Regulations] and other export regulations at this time. Due to communication spectrum regulations and legal limitations on its use, we do not have near-term plans to pursue commercial sales."

    So for now, the drone stopping gun is back to being a really cool weapon for the government, while civilians are still left with more crude means of stopping drones. Although disappeared from its website, the company promises a return to public view for the DroneDefender sometime in 2016, with a focus on sales to U.S. governmental agencies.

    http://www.battelle.org/site/battelle-dronedefender
    Battelle DroneDefender™
    Battelle has temporarily removed information related to DroneDefender™ while we evaluate the permissible applications of the product under current regulations.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    I would not immediately think hoax.

    Somewhere a while back I say a video of a similar device in action. It was being demo'ed at some military trade show. It brought down the drone like a brick.This was indoors at close range though.

    Sadly I can't find the vid now.

  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    rod1963 wrote: »
    Not really, just wait until a good sized drone gets sucked into a jet engine.

    Drones could 'also' be used to chase birds off the tarmac.
    IMO, lasers represent a genuine concern to pilots
  • ElectrodudeElectrodude Posts: 1,657
    edited 2016-01-31 20:39
    There are more radio bands than ISM and GPS. This gun won't stop quadcopters controlled over, say, amateur radio bands.
    Ron Czapala wrote: »
    The device uses radio control frequency disruption to halt and bring down drones in a way that keeps the drone intact while preventing it from setting off any kind of self-destruct sequence.

    What if the drone is programmed to detect if it's being jammed and respond by self-destructing or homing via dead-reckoning (or randomly flying quickly over the gunner's head to avoid the gun for long enough to get a GPS fix)?

  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    Yep, it's Drone Wars.

    The next big TV thing apparently.

  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    That landing could have been IMU only. Lost GPS and low RSSI can be programmed to auto-land. If you have a barometric altimeter it's smooth. Not all copters are setup the same. There is no way for the person on the ground to know what would happen when they pull the trigger. Lots of copters would go away from the ground and higher into the air. I'm sure everyone has heard of the infamous, "fly-away" situation.
  • wasswass Posts: 151
    edited 2016-02-02 03:23
    lardom wrote: »

    Drones could 'also' be used to chase birds off the tarmac.

    Or vice-versa:



Sign In or Register to comment.