A recent post here outlined the difficulties in defending oneself reliably against attacks that make use of drones. While different technological means are being tested, including projectiles, jammers and anti-drone drones, experts concur that so far, the most reliable way to take out a drone is to take out the person controlling it.
Chinese consumer-grade drone manufacturer DJI, recently unveiled a new app that would make this much easier in the case of improper drone use. The app will use wifi protocols enabling anyone in range to access information about a drone’s course and location, as well as the whereabouts of its controller on their phone. A DJI spokesperson affirmed that the required drone ID functionality will be added to a large number of drones already in circulation through software updates and that the company is coordinating with regulators in implementing the new technology. This development follows the implementation of new regulations making drone IDs mandatory in the US and other countries.
While this capability is widely seen as a step in the right direction, it is far from a solution to the potential threat posed by weaponized UAVs. The BBC found that experts remain critical about the usefulness of this app in preventing terrorist attack, for example, as they argue that anyone with “real bad intentions” will find ways of circumventing the new system. The implementation is further limited by compatibility issues with older drones and some smartphones.
So rather than solving the problem of the misuse of drones, this development rather exemplifies how this issue is being tackled on the intersection of regulation, technology and actual physical case-to-case enforcement. And how, regardless, a lot of uncertainty remains.
Ex Machina 