University of Cambridge researchers used a combination of statistical techniques and radar data to predict the flight path of a drone, and whether it intends to enter a restricted airspace, for instance around a civilian airport.
Their solution could help prevent a repeat of the Gatwick incident as it can spot any drones before they enter restricted airspace and pre-determine whether they are likely to pose a threat to other aircraft.
In December 2018, two drones flew into the airport’s airspace forcing the closure of its main runway and causing 48 hours of chaos for thousands of passengers. Anti-drone tech was later installed at the airport in a bid to prevent another incident.
The researchers said their system’s predictive capability can enable automated decision-making and significantly reduce the workload on drone surveillance system operators. Real radar data from live drone trials at several locations was used to validate the new approach.
In 2019...