Drones Drone technology is advancing rapidly with faster, smaller drones with longer ranges and payload capabilities. Counteracting them can be ...
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BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Detecting
Drones
Drone technology is advancing rapidly with faster, smaller drones with longer
ranges and payload capabilities. Counteracting them can be complex.
Here are some issues to consider.
here has never months before the
T been a short-
age of schemes
to try to get con-
escape, drones
were spotted fly-
ing above the
traband into pris- prison and are
ons, but the sud- now believed to
den proliferation Tarsier’s AirScout system can be be linked to the
of drones probably caught every- used on a standalone basis with only breakout. He was apprehended a
one at least a little off guard. It’s Tarsier's artificial intelligence-pow- few months later.
not just a matter of contraband, ered cameras, or it can be integrated Drones bring a unique set of
either. In January 2019, a drone with other drone detection sensors challenges. Obviously they can
tried to capture footage of Bill such as radar, radio frequency, and fly, but they are also inexpensive,
Cosby as he was escorted around acoustic. easy to use, and there are a lot of
the prison yard at the State them. As of 2018, Federal
Correctional Institute Phoenix in Redoine Faid, a career-criminal, Aviation Administration (FAA)
Collegeville, Pa. (Officials and escaped from Reau Prison near figures showed there were more
Cosby’s reps believe the device Paris, France, with the help of a than a million drones registered
was a media drone.) In July 2018, heavily armed team. In the in the U.S. It is projected that by
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2021, there will be more than 3.5 clearly be a matter of public notes that DW includes advanced
million. Gary Andrews, general safety. radio frequency (RF) sensors and
manager and CEO of DeTect, a Kyle Meloney, CEO of Tarsier, radar that was developed specifi-
Panama City, Florida-based com- a San Francisco-based leader of cally for detection and tracking
pany that specializes in advanced camera-based detection and small radar cross section (RCS)
radar and other sensor technolo- tracking system for rogue targets in high signal clutter envi-
gies, notes that the problem is drones, explains how the threat ronments. Furthermore, the DW
“quite prevalent and increasing.” continues to increase in sophisti- radar also includes specialized
He furthers, “New reports of cation. “At first it was simple algorithms in order to reduce
drones used to smuggle contra- contraband drops, using off-the- false positive alerts from birds, a
band into jails and prisons shelf and widely-used DJI drones common flaw in drone-detection
appears almost daily.” flown manually via the radio fre- radars. The system also includes
Lexi Rinaudo, marketing quency communication between a powerful data server and com-
manager at AeroDefense, a New the drone and its pilot. The ini- mand and control (C2) system
Jersey-based provider of solu- tial threat was followed by that allows integration of other
tions to detect drones at correc- strategic contraband drops— sensors including 4K cameras,
tional facilities, stadiums, and including night drops and coor- advanced electro-optics, and
other “high value targets” says: dination with inmates inside. drone interdiction jammers (in
“Since around 2017, contraband Currently, we're observing a states where they are legal).
delivery attempts have become move away from widely-avail- DroneWatcher C2 also supports
increasingly more prevalent. In able consumer drones towards customized user displays and
some facilities, drugs are a sig- lesser known manufacturers, cus- alerting by video, audio, and text
nificant problem, but the prob- tom-built drones, and self-pilot- messaging.
lem varies by facility and usual- ed drones.” AeroDefense’s AirWarden™
ly correlates with gang activity also uses radio frequency-based
in the area. Many facilities act as Methods of Dealing drone detection technology to
known distribution hubs. Due with Drones prevent and respond to drone-
to the increasing threat, drone Technology makes it possible based contraband introduction
detection technology has been to fly a drone into a facility, so attempts. Says Rinaudo,
deployed at facilities throughout technology can be used to keep AirWarden detects, locates, and
the US.” one out. One way DeTect sup- tracks both known and unknown
The array of contraband is ports the corrections industry is drones and their pilots simultane-
vast. In 2017, an inmate in a with its DroneWatcher™ (DW) ously. The system offers
South Carolina facility escaped detection and defense system, audio/visual, text, and email
using a pair of wire cutters deliv- which Andrews describes as “an alerts that are configurable based
ered by a drone, so while contra- advanced, multi-level sensor sys- on role and type. For example,
band is a safety concern for staff tem that detects, tracks and alerts when a detection has started and
within the facility, it can also of drones and small UAVs.” He stopped, the warden may want to
AeroDefense’s AirWarden detects, locates,
and tracks both known and unknown drones
and their pilots simultaneously. The system
offers audio/visual, text, and email alerts.
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be alerted only by email and/or automated, reliable way to detect rounding systems (e.g. electron- text while the response team may and track unwanted drones and ics).” prefer text only notifications as the protect officers, inmates, and the Rinaudo notes that the device’s location changes. Alerts facility’s operations from drone- AirWarden system uses spectrum- can also be sent to local law borne contraband, the company sensing technology to provide enforcement for a coordinated notes. It can be used on a stand- the data staff needs to respond to response. Users with access to alone basis with only Tarsier's drone threats. Sensors that both reporting functionality can select artificial intelligence-powered detect and locate are distributed and download information about cameras, or it can be integrated around the facility perimeter. a specific detection event, multiple with other drone detection sen- Multiple sensors utilize a method detection events, and a summary sors such as radar, radio frequen- called trilateration to determine of all devices detected. Users can cy, and acoustic. the signal source and provide an also easily create an incident estimated location. When a report of multiple detections. Latest Developments detection occurs, the signal is AirWarden has been used with Recent developments, says analyzed and run through several success at several correctional Andrews, include bird target filters to ensure that it is in fact a facilities across the US. For exam- rejection algorithms and classifi- drone or controller signal and to ple, says Rinaudo, “Georgia’s cation systems and non-RF inter- calculate its location. proactive response plans along diction systems. “DeTect’s bird AirWarden provides an with the use of AirWarden as an classification technology is based audio/visual command console early warning system has resulted on its avian radar products that alert and can be configured to in several key incident detec- have been used worldwide since send emails and/or text messages tions, the interception of over 2003 to classify bird targets in with pertinent information. The $500,000 in contraband, and sus- real-time. Non-RF interdiction system now also offers a mobile pect arrests. Most importantly, products include ‘drone catcher’ drone detection solution that drone delivery attempts have drones and other technologies to provides a variety of flexible, essentially been eliminated.” bring down non-authorized dynamic deployment options. Tarsier’s AirScout provides an drones without damaging sur- Configurations can operate inde- VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET CORRECTIONS FORUM • MARCH/APRIL 2020 11
pendently, as a mobile network, but there are issues with both. myriad considerations: What
or in conjunction with fixed, per- Says Andrews, “RF Jamming is happens to the shot that misses?
manently mounted deployments. complex as the jamming system What happens to the remains of
Customers provide the command can impact other RF-based sys- the drone? How do you staff for
vehicle and AeroDefense supports tems in the area (in addition to someone with a net gun? What if
the hardware and software instal- being illegal in most jurisdic- a jamming device blocks local
lation. Says Rinaudo: “Once oper- tions). Other physical interdic- public safety or nearby business-
ational, moving to a new location tion methods also have issues es’ GPS timestamp on security
requires little to no set-up time. related to risk to persons and systems or other? What if a jam-
Most, if not all, other current property on the ground that may ming device falls into the wrong
mobile solutions are bulky and be injured or damaged when the hands? A pilot can set the return
very expensive, so we wanted to drone is ‘brought down.’ to home coordinates to go to a
focus on a more cost effective “In most drone security appli- malicious target if the signal is
and flexible deployment model.” cations today, including jail and interfered with by a jamming
prisons, the best practice is to device. “Even military grade elec-
Problems and have a multi-layer detection ‘net’ tronic jamming “guns” have
Considerations with well thought-out and imple- proven to be ineffective.” She fur-
When it comes to drones, mented response plans, i.e., a thers, “Correctional facilities fre-
Andrews points out that detec- comprehensive concept of opera- quently ask for regional integra-
tion itself is complicated, and tions or CONOPS that specifies tion with State Fusion or dispatch
there is no silver bullet. “RF can facility response procedures that centers. This is something that is
detect most consumer and pro- are activated when a threat is possible with AirWarden today.
sumer WiFi and RF controlled detected,” he concludes. Any information AirWarden
drones but requires constant Regarding multi-layer detec- derives locally from a facility
updates to the hardware and soft- tion, Meloney furthers many of deployment can be automatically
ware to detect and identify new the previously mentioned lesser sent to a fusion/dispatch center.”
drones and protocols as they come known manufacturers, custom- She also notes that there are
onto the market. For example, a built drones, and self-piloted many regulations when it comes
system today that detects most drones render radio frequency- to drone technology. There are
consumer drones, a year from now based detection technologies less three main regulatory bodies that
may only detect 50% of the drones effective. That's a problem, he govern it: the Federal Aviation
and can require major software says, because many technology Administration (FAA), the Federal
and hardware upgrades to stay providers (and as a result their Communications Commission
effective.” He furthers that radar customers) depend on the exis- (FCC), and the Department of
will detect non-traditional RF tence of radio communications Justice (DOJ). According to the
emitting drones such as other fre- their system recognizes. If a man- FAA, only the Department of
quencies and drones on prepro- ually-flown drone uses a rare or a Defense, Department of Energy,
grammed flights (e.g., GPS custom protocol, the odds an RF and Department of Homeland
Waypoint flight paths); however, detection sensor will identify the Security can affect the flight path
radar is more costly, limited by protocol are “slim.” Furthermore, of a drone in certain instances.
line-of-sight, and susceptible to self-piloted drones don't emit RF, “What some people fail to real-
high false-alarm rates from non- so there's no chance of RF detec- ize about drone mitigation like
drone targets such as birds of simi- tion; however, “Radio frequency jamming is that it comes with sig-
lar size to a drone. detection is still an important nificant liability, so even if it were
Virtually any radar can be piece of a multi-sensor solution. legal for private entities, you could
adjusted to detect small drones, Without a doubt, layered systems end up creating a more dangerous
but then for every drone within a that use multiple sensors (e.g., situation that your legal team and
mile or two of the site, there will radar, optical cameras, radio fre- insurance company would not be
be hundreds or perhaps even thou- quency, acoustic) are best.” happy about. The drone could fall
sands of birds that generate a high out of the sky and injure someone
false-alarm rate. For radar to be Mitigation Issues or damage property. And how can
effective in small drone detection, Rinaudo also notes how many a security team determine if the
it must have special software and correctional facilities inquire drone is an authorized flight or
hardware to detect irregularly about technology with mitigation not?”
moving, small RCS targets in high capabilities; however, “There are The FCC prohibits interfering
clutter environments. many issues with mitigation, and with a private radio network
Many might ask about simply it is illegal for non-federal agen- while the DOJ prohibits intercep-
installing jamming technology or cies and private entities, which is tion of radio communications or
physically destroying the drone, why we don’t offer it.” There are acquisition of the contents of
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electronic communications Justice, and Department of nology is advancing rapidly with
where “contents” does not Homeland Security have all faster, smaller drones with longer
include the existence of the com- received relief from restrictions, ranges and payload capabilities.
munication. “AirWarden has no authorizing them to track, disrupt, “DeTect’s approach to its DW line
mitigation capability to affect the control, seize or otherwise confis- is to provide the technology
flight of a drone (FAA), does not cate, or even destroy unmanned through service programs under
interfere with someone else’s aircraft that pose a threat to cer- which DeTect not only supports
radio network (FCC), and does tain facilities or areas. While jam- and warrants the technology but
not intercept any private commu- ming drones would raise Title 18 also provides forward technology
nications between the drone and concerns, it also violates Title 47. upgrades within the base pricing
controller (DOJ).” “Even radio frequency detection agreement to ensure the detection
When it comes to mitigation, operates in a legal gray area. Only system remains highly effective.”
Meloney furthers, “Unfortunately radio frequency detection tech- Andrews furthers, “The key
it's still not legal to mitigate drones nologies that don't obtain infor- thing we and customers are expe-
for almost everyone. Legacy legis- mation about a drone by demodu- riencing is that the ‘drone securi-
lation known as the “Aircraft lation of the command and con- ty’ issue has created a ‘gold rush’
Sabotage Act” classifies drones sim- trol signal between the drone and for new companies jumping in to
ilar to manned aircraft and pro- the pilot’s ground station con- capitalize on the market opportu-
hibits “damaging, destroying, dis- troller are legal. This technique nities, many which are venture
abling, or wrecking” of any air- violates federal wiretapping laws funded start-ups who are pouring
craft. “In other words, anything and also risks the demodulation of a lot of capital into sales and mar-
you can’t do to a commercial jet- other signals like WiFi or cell keting resulting in a lot of over
liner in the continental United phone signals.” promising but under perfor-
States, you can’t do to a drone,” mance. As noted above, drone
though certain agencies including Future Considerations security is complex and there is
the Department of Defense, Time marches on, and facilities no ‘silver bullet.’ Effective solu-
National Nuclear Security need to try to anticipate the tions are complex and require an
Administration, Department of future. Says Andrews, drone tech- A to Z solution.” %
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