A nonprofit corporation with a long history of developing new technology (it made the first nuclear rods, invented the foundation technology of the CD) has come up with a way to harmlessly disable drones that are flying where they aren’t supposed to be flying. The Battelle Memorial Institute has come up with a gun-like radio transmitter that disrupts remote control and GPS signals and makes the drone land. While there are more dramatic ways to deal with drones, Battelle says the DroneDefender is not only effective and inexpensive, it eliminates the risk of drone bits falling on people and property. “The easy-to-use, lightweight, point-and-shoot system requires no extensive training,” the company says on its website. “The DroneDefender system quickly gains control of the drone, immobilizing it so no remote action, including detonation, can occur, minimizing drone damage and risk to public safety.”
Because radio jamming is involved, only law enforcement and government agencies can buy the DroneDefender but given the issues with drones in recent years that should represent a sizeable market. Battelle said it tested its gear against a DJI Phantom (the most popular commercial-grade drone) and the sophisticated flying machine was rendered helpless. In fact, the video below shows the ray-gun-like device actually takes over the drone and the operator simply lowers the gun to force the drone to the ground.
