Jamming technology safely neutralizes threatening drones

Drones are everywhere and some are dangerous. Now authorities can deal with anything that looks threatening.

Drones are small remotely piloted aircraft of the fixed-wing or helicopter type. Formerly reserved for military applications, drones have burst onto the civilian market. They are mainly used as camera platforms, but also increasingly for deliveries.

The boom in the civilian drone market raises security and privacy concerns. The same drone that delivers a pizza or a package could also carry a terrorist payload.

This danger is real. For example, in 2015 alone, drones were used to smuggle contraband into UK prisons more than 30 times. In 2016, ISIS used consumer drones for surveillance and to deliver bombs. Many other security breaches and incidents have already occurred, including at airports.

Security authorities need a way to neutralize threatening drones while still allowing legal use, which the EU-funded KNOX project is providing. The project team optimized the technology, demonstrated it in real operations, and prepared the system for commercialization.

Jamming equipment

KNOX follows approaching drones. Normally this is a pole mounted system to be installed around secure facilities. Its flexibility and scalability allow it to have other configurations, including mounting on perimeter walls.

The components include radio detectors (known as Watchdogs), radio Drone Jammers (Dobermans), a radar system (called The Eagle), as well as a control system (Iris / Argos). Watchdogs surround a building, with The Eagle placed at the center of the network.

The watchdogs each sweep a 60-degree angle, looking for signals between the controller and the drone. The Eagle sweeps 360 degrees to detect propellers and follow the flight path. If drones get too close, the Doberman will block their control radio frequencies.

“Jamming is illegal in most countries, unless you are the police or the military,” says coordinator Nanna Tribler of coordination company MyDefence. Even then, it can be difficult to get approval. Although the team was aware of the Danish approval restrictions before starting the project, they still limited the search to some extent. Nevertheless, the researchers obtained special permits for testing at a Danish military base and less restricted permits for Finland and Israel where interference research is less controlled.

Passed tests

Despite the obstacles, the KNOX team successfully tested the system in over 200 realistic situations. These included around prisons and at other sites, including police stations, sports stadiums, city centers and military installations. The system was also fitted to military vehicles. The tests were successful in stopping the infiltration of unauthorized drones into secure spaces. “Our approach to jamming is now the most compact on the market and has proven to be very effective with minimal collateral damage,” reports Tribler. From the tests, the researchers developed a set of operational procedures.

The study also identified a need for registration and air traffic control of all drones, as well as generally stricter regulations. The researchers will promote these measures to the competent authorities in the EU.

Following successful trials, project members plan to apply for phase 3 funding of the EU SME instrument. In the meantime, the development of the system continues.

The project's market research revealed probable new opportunities within the European defense industry. Eventually, KNOX will be marketed as a leading commercial anti-drone system.

Commercial availability will provide security authorities with previously unavailable options to neutralize threatening drones. This will mean increased security and safety for Europeans.