Drone counter measures

[Tobra]

I saw a story about drones flying around a suburban neighborhood, the cop they interviewed talked about the number of reports, did not find operator, which would be tough to do. Could be benign, maybe nefarious. I got to thinking, best I could come up with is a pressure washer to knock it down, laser to blind it maybe. Getting into falconry is too much, I was thinking more along the lines of Macgyver using the stuff in the shed.

[Seahawk]

Good synonym here:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2023/02/09/how-legally-avoid-drone-surveillance-around-your-private-property/11205343002/

[Arizona_928]

The FAA legally protects drones from being:

• Shot at: Firing a gun into the sky is dangerous and illegal. Just don’t do it.

• Interfered physically: This includes lasers and other objects.

• Disabled or otherwise tampered with: Using a jammer and hacking are criminal acts.

So they’re allowed to operate with impunity…

Wait until they start strapping rpg’s to the front like in Ukraine…

[Arizona_928]

Based on the videos out of Ukraine.

Using your drone to knock out the other drone is a thing. Nets. Jammers (https://tass.com/defense/1694687)…

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

So they’re allowed to operate with impunity…

I didn't make the rules!

We have teamed with a company in Huntsville (Army guys) and are working three counter drone efforts. We do the drone, they do the sensors/countermeasures.

We are also working a cheap, armed ducted fan drone for a one way flight.

It is serious.

[KNS]

If you buy a drone these days you are required to register it. There is now an app (more than one, I think) which you can use to look up to see who’s flying outside your kitchen window. With that info you report them to the authorities.

Problem is tons of people are buying drones and not registering them. But the app is a place to start.

[DavidI]

Once drones are in-flight, they are aircraft and have the same protection as any other aircraft such as a small plane or commercial airplane. As crazy as it sounds, shooting at one would be the same punishment as shooting at one of these. In addition, they are extremely difficult to hit. We attempted this at various ranges and even the best shooters were unsuccessful. Some companies make a net-type round fired from shotguns to entangle the blades, but this has to be done at close range.

In addition, if you were successful in either taking control of the drone by electronic means or physical means, you become responsible for the results if it crashes and injures someone or destroys property.

The military has methods of dealing with them, but not the civilian population.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by DavidI

Once drones are in-flight, they are aircraft and have the same protection as any other aircraft such as a small plane or commercial airplane. As crazy as it sounds, shooting at one would be the same punishment as shooting at one of these. In addition, they are extremely difficult to hit. We attempted this at various ranges and even the best shooters were unsuccessful. Some companies make a net-type round fired from shotguns to entangle the blades, but this has to be done at close range.

In addition, if you were successful in either taking control of the drone by electronic means or physical means, you become responsible for the results if it crashes and injures someone or destroys property.

The military has methods of dealing with them, but not the civilian population.

Ooo, tell us more. What ranges, what loads used? Why are they so hard to hit (other than the obvious).

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

So they’re allowed to operate with impunity…

Wait until they start strapping rpg’s to the front like in Ukraine…

Talk to the FAA. They "own" the skis in the USA and make the rules governing any "aircraft" from drones to the airlines and even hot air balloons and model rockets that get above a few hundred feet.

As an aerial photographer, unless there is a TFR (temporary flight restriction) or a restricted airspace like area 51, and places like the Ft. Sill artillery practice range, we can fly over it. We have mapped several airports even USAF bases and Army bases. Even the FAA facility itself.

We had one client that is in the waste water disposal business. He was looking to buy a competitor that was wanting to sell, but would not allow anyone on the property to see the operation. We flew the competitors site and our client could see the various dirt moving equipment, and the evaporation ponds. It let him know what that business was worth.

We were flying another site that was next to a nuclear power plant. Our airplane had to fly directly over the power plant to make turns. A local county sheriff saw the airplane and read the tail number. He called the local airport to have them call the pilot and tell him to stay away from the power plant or he would shoot down the airplane! The tower told the sheriff he can't do that. He looked up the FAA registry of the tail number (anyone can) and found the name of the company, and asked what the home airport was. He met the pilot on the ground and was wanting to arrest him. Our pilot was a long time very experienced pilot and he told the sheriff he has no authority whatsoever over where he flies. The sheriff finally backed down when he talked to an air traffic controller at that airport.

That same pilot was around in the 1970s when a president in Air Force one changed his mind on where he wanted to go. There is always a TFR around Air Force one, and our pilot clipped the edge on it. He said all of a sudden a F-16 came screaming past as he trundled along at 100 knots running the aerial camera. He said the same F-16 came past again, almost standing on his tail to move that slow. He was met by the FBI when he landed and and had to show them why he was there, and they eventually admitted there was no danger to the POTUS.

[masraum]

I was on my way home from work a couple of weeks ago and saw a drone hovering ~50' over the eastbound lanes of I10. I was thinking that the authorities probably wouldn't be very happy about that.

[Zeke]

Too bad Silly String won't reach 100 feet or more.

The FAA control thing is strange. Aircraft are required to stay above 1000' over populated areas.
And 500' after take off before initiating a turn. I know because I live under a general aviation pattern that sees 200 planes a day. A drone here is a serious violation because of the GA activity.

So are any balloons. I'm talking about kids balloons. Hard to find the source of those too.

We had an incident about a drone where some fool went on the Nextdoor app and asked about his missing drone. You would have thought that the tar and feather squad was convening. I've never seen one flying in real life.

I have to emphasize the rules about shooting anything towards the sky in a flight pattern. You'll get a visit by the FBI if the cops don't get you first.

[DRONE]

Just give me a wave off and I'll leave

[3rd_gear_Ted]

There were drones flying faster than the Indy cars @ the LBGP and they follow the race course with uncanny ability.
Lots of insurance companies are reviewing their clients property conditions for upkeep or hoarding of stuff. My roof was drone reviewed per my agent to verify it was a new TPO type roof with solar panels as I stated. If you get caught falsifying, welcome to the high risk pool for 3 years minimum.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I didn't make the rules!

We have teamed with a company in Huntsville (Army guys) and are working three counter drone efforts. We do the drone, they do the sensors/countermeasures.

We are also working a cheap, armed ducted fan drone for a one way flight.

It is serious.

[DavidI]

Originally Posted by jyl

Ooo, tell us more. What ranges, what loads used? Why are they so hard to hit (other than the obvious).

We used law enforcement ranges and fired at Department-owned drones. We fired with shotguns (12 gauge 00 Buck), .308, .223, and a specialized round that opened up with a net. Even our best shooters were unable to strike a moving drone.

The variables with distance, height, and angles made the shots almost impossible.

We also printed 3D 40mm ordnance-dropping devices that attached to drones, similar to what is being used in Ukraine, to drop inert explosives over targets. It was scary how simple it was to do and how devastating the results could be.

I fear that it is only a matter of time before it becomes an issue in the US.

[pwd72s]

One of these?
https://outdoormoran.com/best-hunting-slingshots/

[KFC911]

Rocks!!!

signed....

Ernest T Bass

FWIW .... I've never seen one .... just a matter of time I reckon.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by KNS

If you buy a drone these days you are required to register it. There is now an app (more than one, I think) which you can use to look up to see who’s flying outside your kitchen window. With that info you report them to the authorities.

Problem is tons of people are buying drones and not registering them. But the app is a place to start.

You mean like registering firearms. Where the people you would need to be registered aren’t…

[stevej37]

I've found the best counter for drone is to drop it down a gear and get those revs up over 3500.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I've found the best counter for drone is to drop it down a gear and get those revs up over 3500.

LOL! Yep, that would do it!