Drones have been affecting the world massively, both in positive and negative ways. Most of the drones which are in use by the common consumer are considered harmless and mainly serve purposes like photography, filmmaking, surveying and delivery. On the other hand, explosive drones are not only making their way to the military but are also getting into illicit hands to cause severe damage to life and property. Recently, an explosive drone was used to target the Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro. Taking into account the lethal potential of drones, many governments have also introduced strict drone laws. There also exist many anti-drone gadgets but with the improvement in drone technology, the offensive drones are set to only get smarter than ever. Therefore, Fortem Technologies have come up with a defensive drone which is the equivalent of unmanned air policing.
The Fortem DroneHunter is a drone which can detect a malicious drone, inhibit its activities, capture the drone and then safely transport it to a far-off location. The process from detection to take down of a threatening drone is AI-guided. Fortem calls the DroneHunter a fully autonomous UAS Airspace Defense Solution (ADS). It is an intelligent (robotic) aircraft enabled with TrueView radar designed and engineered for physical remediation of intruder or threatening drones. When an intruder drone is discovered, DroneHunter can engage autonomously via AI-directed detection, tracking and guidance. It analyzes the threat level and safely resolves the threat. It does this at a safe stand-off distance without any collateral damage. Some UAVs are not susceptible to countermeasures like radio-jamming, failing RF systems and are quite sophisticated. The DroneHunter can successfully eliminate threats from such high-level rogue drones.This drone is also highly useful at keeping commercial drones out of restricted airspace.
The method used by the drone to capture rogue drones is by shooting out a net. The net is fired like a bullet, at 80 miles per hour and it can catch a target 25 feet away. Fortem CEO Timothy Bean says, “The DroneHunter patrols the airspace, detects any unwanted objects in the airspace, enemy drones or other robotics, pursues them, and then safely captures them and tows them away to a safe location.”
Fortem tested this drone by introducing a rogue drone with explosives in an airspace. The DroneHunter, guided by AI, detected the threat, shot out a net, seized the enemy drone and towed it away, all without human control.
Bean believes that the technology his company has developed could transform the way such public spaces are policed. “If you look at what happened in Venezuela,” said Bean, “law enforcement is keenly aware and understands the need to protect the airspace around people, stadiums, outdoor events, refineries.”
Watch as Fortem CEO Timothy Bean describes the working of the DroneHunter :
