Unmanned drones have proved to be a stealthy asset in the war on terror, making strikes on targets and collecting data on enemy movements. However, these small, nimble and nearly silent fliers can also be used to keep tabs on law-abiding citizens from nearby skies. This domestic use of drones is raising concerns about privacy violations including potentially violating the Fourth Amendment. Now APlus Mobile is planning to build a Linux-based Personal Drone Detection System. These will detect any nearby drone using a method known as Mesh Grid Triangulation.
The R&D division of APlus Mobile, the DDC or Domestic Drones Countermeasures, is planning to launch a device that will detect and track a drone aircraft that approaches within 50 feet. DDC has launched a Kickstarter project for building the Linux-based Personal Drone Detection System. They plan to make it available in November 2014, at $499 for the alpha test model, and in April 2015, at $699 for the beta test model.
DDC has a drone detection algorithm for which a patent is pending. The Personal Drone Detection System relies on this algorithm to work its magic. APlus Mobile will be using a MotherBone PiOne board-level Linux subsystem motherboard for building the device. The motherboard is an open spec PiOne type, which means it can fit either a BeagleBone Black or a Raspberry Pi single board computer.
The MotherBone PiOne is actually a part of the Primary Command and Control Module unit. This unit works in conjunction with two nodes of detecting sensors and establishes a mesh grid network. In turn, the network can triangulate the location of mobile transmitters. If you deploy more control modules and nodes, the network can cover a wider area.
The wireless mesh network and target triangulation work together. You can set up the nodes as far as 200 feet apart. Although the mesh network uses Wi-Fi to communicate, it is kept isolated from the user unlike the control module, which communicates with the user over Wi-Fi.
To detect the wirelessly enabled, mobile devices or drones, the sensor nodes use a frequency that ranges between 1 MHz and 6.8GHz. While detecting all known telemetry transmission frequencies, the system tries to determine if the mobile transmitter is actually a drone. All drones must transmit some telemetry data that allows it to navigate. Therefore, even if the drone is only storing recorded media and not transmitting it, it can be detected.
The biggest challenge for the drone detection algorithm will be in distinguishing between a jogger passing by with a cell phone and an actual drone. According to Aplus, the software does reduce false triggering. The system is designed to detect and trigger an alarm only if a drone is loitering nearby. Therefore, a jogger would have to stop for a while in front of the house for the device possibly to trigger a false alarm.
Once the device detects a drone hovering nearby, it sounds an alarm and simultaneously, sends a message on your mobile device. That should make you draw your infrared-resistant blinds and call for the police, unless the drone belongs to the police.
