China’s DJI offers system to track airborne drones as governments tighten restrictions
The company's AeroScope solution broadcasts a drone’s location, identification and flight direction for law enforcement agencies to monitor, and has been installed at two undisclosed international airports
DJI, the world’s largest maker of recreational drones, has introduced a system that identifies and monitors airborne drones, as authorities in China and elsewhere look to crack down on use of the devices near airports and other sensitive locations.
The Shenzhen-based company's AeroScope system uses the existing communications link between a drone and its remote controller to broadcast identification information, such as a registration or serial number, as well as other details including location, altitude, speed and direction.
Police, security agencies and aviation authorities can use an AeroScope receiver to monitor, analyse and act on that information, according to DJI.
The system “can help solve policy challenges, head off restrictive regulations, and provide accountability without being expensive or intrusive for drone pilots,” said Brendan Schulman, DJI’s vice-president for policy and legal affairs, in a statement.
“As drones have become an everyday tool for professional and personal use, authorities want to be sure they can identify who is flying near sensitive locations or in ways that raise serious concerns.”
In May, aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Administration of China introduced a real-name registration policy for drone owners after a series of incidents involving drones, including one in April when more than 240 airline flights were disrupted by drones flying near Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in the country's southwest.