Justin Stakes writes [via ammoland.com]
OpenWorks Engineering, a group of British engineers, has invented a system that offers security operators a ground-breaking alternative way to defeat nefarious drones; to be displayed at the UK Home Office’s ‘Security and Policing Event’ on 8th March . . .
Drone use (quadcopters, UAVs) is on the increase – and is regularly compromising security and privacy laws and the safety or security of both the public and high profile VIPs/celebrities. There is a broad range of current concepts to defeat drones, including jamming their command signals, burning them out of the sky with high-power lasers and attempting to train eagles to catch them.
The SkyWall concept is simple; physically capture a drone in a net and bring it to the ground safely under a parachute.
Physically capturing a drone is the best way to ensure control of a situation is maintained. Once captured it can be impounded, forensically investigated or simply handed back with some words of education where appropriate. Perhaps more importantly, the potential legal implications of damaging the pilot’s property (drone) are mitigated.
The OpenWorks Engineering team will officially launch their SkyWall100 drone defence system at the Home Office S&P Event; a cost effective system that could be deployed by government authorities and private security firms.
Skywall 100 comprises of a man portable compressed air launcher and an intelligent projectile with on-board countermeasures. The launcher uses a computerised SmartScope to calculate the drone’s flight path and directs the operator on where to aim the launcher, to ensure the drone is intercepted.
When the operator pulls the trigger the projectile is programmed so that it deploys its on-board net and parachute at precisely the right time to catch the target drone.
OpenWorks Engineering will develop a range of air powered launchers and intelligent projectiles to provide for the wide range of scenarios conceivable, these include permanent systems for the defence of critical national infrastructure.
Chris Down, Managing Director of OpenWorks:
“OpenWorks Engineering believes that security enforcement authorities need a cost-effective and proportionate way of protecting the public and high profile individuals and we wanted to put a system on the market that offered just that.”
“Authorities around the world have been looking for a system like this and we are proud to continue the tradition of British innovation in the security industry.”
OpenWorks Engineering is already engaged with a number of government and private organisations across the world and is expecting to see the first SkyWall100 systems in use before the end of 2016.
About OpenWorks Engineering:
OpenWorks Engineering is a high quality product development company that thrives on solving problems by combining modern technologies alongside fundamental engineering principles. For more information, visit: www.openworksengineering.com.
THIS is what happens when .22LR gets scarce.
Looks like that’d cost a whole lot more than a 12 gauge pump shotgun.
a tiny net.
And looks like it has a very limited range, like less than 150 feet.
Only because brits are limited to air launchers.
Nets are a good way to capture drones, stuff them full of explosives, and send them on their way back home.
Master Betty will be pleased
Named SkyWall because Skynet was already taken. I guess they can’t use Terminator either.
“Introducing, new from SkyNet Engineering, the Terminator! Got pesky kids flying drones around your airspace? Make sure they never do it again!”
Yeah, probably better they used different names.
Ugh
Quads are for idiots who cant fly a heli.
And these idiots have no respect for the good community relationship we serious rc hobbists built up.
It’s amazing that every facet of life has someone that sees themselves as an elitist.
The world is full of idiots, If we stop innovating because elitists look down on us or things are misused by idiots, we would still be in the dark ages.
So excuse us while life passes you by.
When a ferrari f360 guy looks down on a 2015 honda civic guy there is no indication that the ferrari guy thinks that all cars have to be ferraris, or that all cars developed after f360’s era shouldntve existed
Ugh. Civics are for people who can’t drive Ferrari F360s.
@felix
Well, when pushed to the extreme a 360 is absolutely safer than a civic, yknow, for those brake-too-late-or-throttle-too-early-and-about-to-run-through-the-guard-rail situation.
Serious as in Helis with no gyros?
(The good ‘ole days: Helis came in 2 flavors, .40 and .60, and training landing gear was a hula-hoop like thing. And the setup cost about 4 grand.)
Pull the gyro off of a TRex 700 DFC is great fun. Hand fit everything and test hover in the bedroom. Then take it to an open field, like, a really open one. Have fun
Wasn’t that a TRex that decapitated that guy while showing off his 3D ‘skills’?
EDIT – Yup. a TREX 700..
Horror as remote-control helicopter stunt pilot, 19, partially-decapitates himself with his aircraft after he lost control
“One clip shows him putting his Trex 700 helicopter through incredible tricks. The video culminates with him dropping the $1,500 model from the sky, only to restart the rotor when it is just inches from his head.”
There’s video there of him flying it close to his head…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2413231/Roman-Pirozek-Jr-Man-decapitates-remote-control-helicopter.html
Right or wrong, everyone flying r/c is now looked at through the lens of being a drone pilot. At the risk of being elitist, this is what happens when things move downmarket. R/C requires money, skill, and time, which generally made for good judgement, manners, restraint. That all goes right out the window when it’s $99 at Wallyworld. They’re gonna buzz Fred’s pig roast, and check out them girls sunbathin’. Don’t worry about them thar helicopters, I’m gonna get my flood pictures…
Sorry. Genie’s long out.
I can still fly a 150 in the neighborhood without a problem. Kids love to see it and wanna try it. Anything above that i’ll truck it far far away from human population
A quad Fudd on TTAG! And yet if I want another quad I’ll just get one regardless. They have impressive aerial filming capabilities and they’re just fun.
Yeah, there’s a video of the Knob Creek machine gun shoot where there’s a number of R/C aircraft trying to dodge full-auto fire:
Machine Gun and RC Airplanes – NIGHT SHOOT
Prove it.
Ugh
RC hobbists are idiots who cant fly a real heli
And these idiots have no respect for the good community relationship we real pilots built up.
Bunch of losers infesting our airspace.
Are you two gentlemen done writing your names in the snow?
Of course subjects can have one so only the authorities can control the skies.
Yes, the tiny net is a death sentence.
A Batman utility net for drones… AWESOME!
We truly are living in the future! 🙂
If they are violating your privacy with their drone, I don’t see any reason to be concerned with damaging the drone. Without a doubt rubber bullets are a whole lot more cost effective than a giant ass net launcher, and don’t pose any serious safety risks.
It’s all branched off the politically correct bs. If the majority of society would stop being a bunch if wimps, all to afraid of hurting someone’s feelings, we wouldn’t have this issue. IF these launchers are even available to the public, they are going to be way to pricy. Plus, while the gov and private security get away Scot free either way, us “regular” folk would undoubtedly get prosecuted for some nonsense or another.
This is a niche product, but if someone is flying a drone over a crowd, say, a football stadium, or a political rally, this seems much safer than any conventional method of bringing it down.
Available soon: Surgical-sharp stainless quad blades…
Can’t be more cost-effective than birdshot.
Dan Bilzerian took a break from playing poker and made a video in which he and some of his scantily clad friends blasted numerous drones from the sky. The finale was a fleet of drones simultaneously converging on his position from multiple directions and multiple altitudes. I would not bet on a Wiley Coyote “flying net” approach to drone defense.
And what happens if or when the drone moves, as opposed to being stationary and waiting for their perfect targeting system and slow moving payload to reach it?
Good grief. A high tech t-shirt launcher.
Yup. And gigantic to boot!
Geez a few lengths of chain in a spud gun would be a lot cheaper. Even if the chain was PVC plastic. I suppose you couldn’t fleece the taxpayers much off of that.
1) Low cost netting for around your garden cut to size
2) Some split shot fishing sinkers around the edge
3) Foam wadding cut about 1.5″ diameter
4) 1 can Aquanet Extra Hold
5) 1 spud gun
Seems a whole lot more cost effective and it has multiple uses.
That 1980s-lookin’ thing appears poised to Hoover up an impressive amount of taxpayer money. With a little help from FedGov.
All ya need is a Whamo Slingshot and a handful of taconite…
Look Ma! A cast net for ducks!
Well hell. Now I want one.
Looks like it belongs in HALO 6 (or whatever number they are on).
Looks pretty lame. By the time the net shooter gets out this case out and lugs this gigantic clunker where the quadcopter is – it will probably be long gone with mission accomplished.