Army wants system to determine a drone’s intent

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UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 07: A U.S. Air Force MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), carrying a Hellfire missile lands at a secret air base after flying a mission in the Persian Gulf region on January 7, 2016. The U.S. military and coalition forces use the base, located in an undisclosed location, to launch airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, as well as to distribute cargo and transport troops supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. The Predators at the base are operated and maintained by the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, currently attached to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Worried about hostile drones, but unsure how to determine which drones are hostile and which are not, the Army is looking for technology that can determine a drone’s intent.

A new Army research project, titled “Methods for Determining Threat Level and Intent of Unmanned Aerial Systems,” aims to develop a lightweight system that can detect a drone, determine its intent, and then hijack it and bring it down in a safe location.

The goal is a “flexible, tripod mounted, low-cost, low-power consumption system capable of taking over the navigation systems and can impart key functions necessary for the hostile UAV to safely navigate and land in a safe place for further characterization/exploitation,” the Army said.

Besides the military, other potential users include police, port authorities and critical industries.

About 

Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.