Airspace safety for flying drones is undergoing a transformation process. One of the points in which evolution has progressed the most is the detection of unmanned aerial systems. Currently, any citizen with a smartphone can identify UAS thanks to applications developed for this purpose. This feature is possible if the system has built-in remote identification capabilities, a requirement that is mandatory for many business models in locations such as the United States.
One of the latest companies to launch a drone detection app was Airsentiel.aispecializing in airspace reporting. Air Sentiel It allows you to identify the location, altitude of the aircraft and the control station, and even the take-off location. Information collected by the app also includes the digital license plate number and flight route.
CEO of Airsentinel Alan Erickson, after his speech, explained that the goal is the democratization of airspace security and assured that it is an advantageous option for both private and public entities. “Private businesses can greatly benefit from our app by protecting their facilities from unwanted drone intrusions, protecting intellectual property and ensuring the security of their operations. Public safety organizations and cities can also use the app to monitor UAS activity in their jurisdictions, improving security and minimizing potential threats,” he noted.
The company is not the first to provide an app for this type of functionality. In fact in 2019 DJIa well-known Chinese company in the commercial unmanned systems sector Direct connection from drone to phone. This app consists of a camera that you can use to aim the drone. In this way, data such as position, heading or pilot position will begin to be processed.
Operator privacy
It was the ability to detect the location of the operator that opened the debate about the possible violation of user privacy after the presentation Direct connection from drone to phone. In this sense, Airsential is trying to distance itself from this controversy. One of its founders, Kenji Sugaharaassured that Air Sentiel it meets safety needs “while respecting operators” and noted that it does not reveal the location of pilots to unregistered users.
Another company that entered the UAS detection market was Drone scanner. In 2022, the entity launched a platform for Android and iOS with features similar to those listed above. This has a developed map with the location of your own UAV and the location of other users. In addition to altitude and heading data, the application provides a description of the operation and location history of the selected aircraft.
The main hero of the mobile application at war
The evolution in the detection of drones through mobile phones has also reached the war between Russia and Ukraine. The embattled country, facing the constant threat of massive attacks by Russian unmanned systems, especially the Shahed 136 suicide drones, decided to create a platform Epp.
Eppo works in a way that allows you to point the mobile camera at the drone and press the red button to save the location and identify the system. The application was developed by the company Technari Design Group in cooperation with South Ukrainian Air Force, to facilitate the detection of military targets that are difficult to locate using radar. In particular, it focuses on drones that operate at low altitudes.
The system requires identification with the country’s electronic service. Reports generated by citizens are checked by air defense specialists who, together with indications from radars in the area, try to detect the threat in question.