Engineers deal with dangerous drones

Several different approaches are being developed to deal with the growing problem, including bazooka nets, lasers and birds of prey

Anti-drone technology is being developed to deal with rogue UAVs and prevent collisions with planes, as an increasing amount of unmanned aircraft take to the sky.

According to data from the UK Airprox Board, part of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there were 39 proximity incidents, near misses, between aircraft and drones in 2015. This figure looks set to rise as more drones are spotted in UK airspace.

Several different projects around the world are developing technologies and techniques ranging from lasers to the use of birds of prey to deal with dangerous drones.

The CAA said: “These kinds of technologies and approaches could be a viable solution to dealing with drones, but it is up to the airports to look at them and decide whether or not to use them. However, we would have to be assured the technology would not impact on vital airport systems including radio applications.”

One solution has been developed by Northumberland-based startup OpenWorks Engineering, which has created an air-powered net launcher that fires small anti-drone projectiles.

Skywall 100 comprises of a hand held, portable compressed air launcher and an intelligent projectile with on-board countermeasures. The launcher uses a computerised Smartscope that compensates for the gravity drop and the lead required for a moving drone target in its trajectory.

When the operator pulls the trigger the projectile is programmed to deploy its on-board net and parachute at precisely the right time to catch the target drone.

Chris Down, managing director of OpenWorks, said that the company is in talks with a number of governments and companies around the world to develop a range of similar products for various scenarios, including permanent systems for the defence of critical national infrastructure.

The first SkyWall 100 system is expected to be in use before the end of 2016.

Meanwhile, a number of firms are looking into technology to jam drone command signals, while Boeing has developed a Compact Laser Weapon System that is able to burn drones out of the sky with high-power lasers. Dutch police are taking a lo-fi route and attempting to train eagles to catch UAVs.