Volume 6
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, are
a clear and ever-increasing example of this trend.
Military drones were the bulk of the mature UAS
field just a few years ago – commercial sales have
since exploded, with over 700,000 units sold in
2015 in the US alone according to the Consumer
Electronics Association. Drones have yielded—
and will continue to yield—many positive benefits
for society, but the threats associated with accidental or malicious use have also increased as these
tools have become more common.
Option
Challenge
Optical Systems
Require
line-of-sight
to threat; can’t see
through buildings
Audio Systems
Must be pointed at the
threat to start with; easily fooled in urban environments
Drone Guns
Do not actually identify
the threat; require human operation for threat
response
Radars
Su bject to FCC regulations; “always on” posture may create radiation hazards for people
nearby
Jammers
Typically illegal under
federal regulations allowing general use of
wireless communications
Trained Birds
Requires an avian care
facility for regular care
and feeding of the “fleet”
Drones have increasingly been reported performing unsafe or illegal operations. While many situations may be innocent misuse or simple curiosity,
the breadth of incidents cannot be ignored: daily
sightings on airport property; interference with firefighting operations; suspicious overwatch of police
activity; overflights at nuclear power plants; incidents at the White House; and drone deliveries of
cell phones, narcotics, and weapons into prisons
around the world.
The response to unmanned aerial systems is as
July-Aug 2016 Edition
varied as the threat. Organizations of all types,
from police and public safety officials to international military forces, have tried almost every option:
radars, guns, jammers, nets, and even speciallytrained birds. These solutions each have their pros
and cons, but none have both the precision and the
breadth of response that the SkyTracker system
provides.
A comprehensive response to the threat posed by
drones—and other remotely-operated systems—
needs to be just as flexible as the system being
used. With the right hardware a drone can fly at
night, in poor weather, in extreme heat and cold,
and at high speeds. Experienced operators can fly
their crafts almost as well as a Star Wars X-wing
pilot, using military-style techniques to avoid detection until the last minute. When faced with a determined adversary, how will your chosen system
respond?
(CACI’s SkyTracker detection and engagement system defends against UAS threats. Creating an electronic boundary
around sensitive locations, SkyTracker quickly detects, identifies, and tracks both UAS and their operators… Stopping
UAS threats to valuable assets and national airspace. It’s
scalable in size and scope of mission area and applicable
anywhere commercial drones pose a risk. Courtesy of Caci
and YouTube)
Of course, not every drone pilot means to harm
others around them. Many simply enjoy the thrill
of playing with what (admittedly) can be an entertaining toy. At the same time, few operators understand the technical challenges that come along
with flying a remotely piloted aircraft. It might seem
tempting to get a better view of a parade, but what
happens if the drone malfunctions and drops out
of the sky? The technology that makes up an unmanned system is fantastically complex, and while
manufacturers have put a lot of effort into making
their products safe for the general public, accidents