Drones are undoubtedly one of the hottest trends in tech, but as is often the case when new tech hits the market security and privacy concerns are a big issue. With even basic drones capable of recording video and the larger models capable of carrying packages from innocent deliveries to drugs and explosives, it’s not surprising that security tech is also being developed to safely capture and disable drones from a distance. We took a look at the methods of drone-stopping technology available last year, but things have gotten bigger, better, and more exciting since then.
The SkyWall100 Drone Defense System is the latest and greatest thing in the world of anti-drone defense, featuring a laser-equipped smart scope connected to a high tech smart projectile. Anyone manning the SkyWall100 sights in and fires once the smart scope has calculated the drone’s trajectory and flight path. The smart projectile payload within can then react when it gets close to the target and deploy a specially designed net and parachute combo that captures and floats the drone, along with the projectile’s casing, safely to the ground. The best part is the tech is almost entirely silent and can be reloaded in just under eight seconds. The whole thing uses compressed air rather than more traditional firearm solutions, but still manages to achieve a range of around 330 feet.
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Different ways to stop a drone
The SkyWall100 isn’t the first anti-drone system we’ve seen, but it’s relatively portable, focuses on bringing down drones safely, and the nature of its guidance system makes it easy for anyone to use. Plus it looks like something out of Starship Troopers, which already makes it at least as cool as the competition.
The SkyWall100 is focused on taking down drones safely and effectively so that they can be either returned to their rightful owner unharmed or so that authorities can use the intact drone as evidence to lead them back to potentially dangerous perpetrators. It’s definitely a more drone-friendly option than Boeing’s automated laser cannon, a device that would make Portal’s GLADOS absolutely giddy with anticipation. Nets seem downright merciful compared to a device that can burn a hole right through a military grade drone’s exterior hull.
There’s no word on how well the SkyWall100 stacks up against Battelle’s DroneDefender, which utilizes a lightweight radio frequency disruption device mounted to a gun-like frame. Both definitely have their advantages, and both are portable, relatively user friendly, and easy to operate. The difference of course is that the DroneDefender can only jam certain signals and therefore can only disable drones that utilize these systems, while the SkyWall100 can take down anything within it’s range. On the flip side of things, the DroneDefender can reach ranges as far as 1300 feet, compared to the SkyWall100’s 330. Of course Battelle’s solution requires the user to keep constant aim on the drone until it reaches the ground, which is a lot less effective against multiple targets, compared to the SkyWall100’s fire and forget strategy.
Either way, it’s likely that both of these options may take backstage as drone technology continues to soar to literal new heights, out of range of both options. The future of drone defense systems could very well sit in the hands of a number of skilled anti-drone operators that pilot something like Michigan Tech’s drone interceptor. That’s a drone with a built-in net gun that operators can use to chase down and capture rogue drones no matter where they go. Could we see high-speed drone-chases sometime in our near future?
No matter the anti-drone tech being developed, the average enthusiast doesn’t have much to worry about provided they follow some sensible rules and the legal regulations. This tech is about keeping people safe from groups that might use drones for nefarious means. So as long as you don’t plan on flying your favorite drone over Area 51, the White House, or somewhere equally off limits you’ll likely never have to deal with nets or lasers bringing your drone to the ground.
