What Is Drone Detection Equipment?

ATEC Solutions

What Is Drone Tracking?

Drone tracking is implemented by both government agencies and private citizens. This practice happens when technicians use various devices to detect and locate unwanted or illegal drones. Drone tracking helps ensure that airspace and privacy laws are respected by drone operators.

In the modern world, drones have become more popular and easier to obtain. Experts with the FAA and FCC are looking to regulate these drones, but in order to address the growing concern over possible privacy infringements and the increased number of drones in operation, people must use precise and reliable drone detection equipment.

FAA’s Drones Laws

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) both try to provide regulations that will keep drones within the confines of the law, but that does not guarantee that drone operators will always honor those requirements, knowing or unknowingly. For example, the FAA requires operators to register any recreational drone that weights more than 0.55 pounds. There also rules designed to ensure airspace safety. Unsafe incidents in the past have motivated these federations to be stricter with drone regulations. Some of these incidents include drones crashing into buildings like the Space Needle or onto government property such as the White House. There have even been reports of hawks attacking drones or drones hitting people.

What is Drone Detection Equipment?

Drone detectors track Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that may be engaged in illegal acts or invasions of personal privacy, including recording, spying, smuggling or potential terrorist attacks. Unauthorized UAV's entering certain airspace is a security issue. A drone detector will give users data on the drone in question and even the location of the drone operator, depending on the sophistication of the instrument.

How Do Drone Detectors Work?

Due to the heterogeneity of speed, size and shape among modern drones, identification can be difficult with a single method of drone monitoring. In response to this, drone detection equipment harness a variety of sensors for real-time drone tracking, including GPS, RF, Wi-Fi, radar, video, audio, thermal and ultrasonic sensors. In addition to monitoring for UAVs, some drone detection instruments monitor for drones on the ground or in the water as drone technology diversifies.

Drone Tracker Features

Desirable drone surveillance features include the detection range of the technology, 360-degree protection and the ability to locate and analyze drones without a clear line of sight. The latter allows operators to find drones on the other side of hills, behind trees or even powering up inside of buildings. Once a drone is found, drone detection software can send alerts via email or text message to notify you.

Narda’s SignalShark

One signal identification system is Narda’s SignalShark. Narda has a series of SignalShark models, including the Narda SignalShark 3310 Real-Time Handheld Spectrum Analyzer. The device’s GNSS embedded receiver and antenna (GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) allows operators to find that are unauthorized or illegal drones along with other interference hunting applications.

The Future of Drone Detection Equipment

The drone detection is a growing necessity as the number of unauthorized drones goes up. To ensure safety and security of your facility, whether it be an airport, stadium, industrial plant or other. ATEC carries GNSS devices and spectrum analyzers like the Narda SignalShark with RF signal analyzing capabilities that can be used to detect UAVs.
Drone flying through blue sky and over a field.

Drone flying through blue sky and over a field.