DJI makes app to identify drones and find pilots
Drones have caused widespread disruption at
airports around the world
Drone maker DJI has demonstrated a way to
quickly identify a nearby drone, and pinpoint the location of its pilot, via a
smartphone.
The technique makes use of a protocol called "Wi-Fi Aware",
with which the drone essentially broadcasts information about itself.
The
company said it would help prevent security threats and disruption, and give
members of the public peace of mind.
But experts believe sophisticated
criminals would still be able to circumvent detection.
"It's going to be
very useful against rogue drones," said Elrike Franke, a policy fellow at the
European Council on Foreign Relations, who studies the impacts of the drone
industry.
"But it's not going to be enough to fight people with real bad
intentions, because these are going to be the first people to hack this
system."
DJI told the BBC it could add the functionality to drones
already on the market via a software update.
The firm explained: "Using a
simple app, anyone within radio range of the drone can receive that signal and
learn the location, altitude, speed and direction of the drone, as well as an
identification number for the drone and the location of the
pilot."
However, a spokesman said that will only happen once pending
regulation regarding remote identification of drones has been agreed
upon.
He added that DJI has not yet decided whether it will force its
customers to install the update.
'Right behind that building'
While
the majority of drone operators act properly, there have been a number of
high-profile instances of pilots behaving illegally - and others where suspicion
of drone activity has caused huge disruption.
In December 2018, Gatwick
Airport, in Sussex, England, was brought to a standstill after reports of a
drone apparently flying in protected airspace.
"If Gatwick staff had a
smartphone enabled with this capability in their pockets," explained Adam
Lisberg, from DJI, "they could have taken it out, seen a registration number for
the drone, seen the flight path, and the location of the operator.
DJI said drone pilots could be quickly and
precisely located using the technology
"They could look on the map
and say: 'Right behind that building.'"
Mr Lisberg said the same method
could be used to help build trust. One scenario, he suggested, might be a member
of the public using an app to discover a nearby drone was owned by a
construction firm, and was inspecting a roof at a particular
address.
"That sounds like a step in the right direction," added Ms
Franke. "If we are moving into a world where drones will be more ubiquitous, we
do need for anyone to get a sense of whether a drone is there for a legitimate
reason or not."
Incoming regulation
All drone manufacturers will
eventually need to adopt a system of remote identification in order to comply
with upcoming regulation set to be put in place in different
countries.
The US Federal Aviation Administration, along with the
country's Department of Transport, is expected to unveil proposed rules for
mandatory remote drone ID next month - though that move as been repeatedly
delayed.
Even once agreed upon, the measures could take more than a year
to implement. The FAA has told drone makers to come up with their own solutions
in the meantime.
DJI said it would roll out its Remote ID capabilities
once its obligations were more clear. It could apply the changes to drone models
dating back "several years", it said.
Widespread adoption of the
technology will also be held back somewhat by so-far limited inclusion of the
"Wi-Fi Aware" protocol in popular smartphones, such as Apple's iPhone, which
currently does not support it.
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