When noise becomes a weapon against drones
Chandigarh: Scientists at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) have developed an innovative acoustic-based anti-drone system capable of disabling unauthorized flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) mid-air. Funded by IHUB-NTIHAC, a technology innovation and cybersecurity hub established at IIT Kanpur, the breakthrough addresses growing security concerns surrounding the misuse of commercial and military drones.The anti-drone system that uses high-intensity sound waves to bring down unauthorized drones in seconds, offers a safe way to protect high-security areas from flying threats. Unlike traditional jammers that block radio signals, this system shoots focused sound frequencies directly at a drone’s internal balance sensors—acting like a blast of noise that confuses its “inner ear”. The sudden loss of balance forces the drone to wobble and tumble mid-air, making it effective even against fully automated drones that do not rely on remote controls.While drones have become essential tools for traffic monitoring, surveillance, and disaster response, their rising presence near strategic locations poses significant security risks. CSIO’s new countermeasure targets the MEMS-(Micro-Electro-Mechanical System)–a tiny silicon chip sensor that measures rotational speed or angular velocity that drones rely on for balance and navigation. Inside every drone is a tiny chip —MEMS gyroscope. It works just like the human inner ear—it contains minuscule vibrating components that tell the drone’s computer whether it is tilting, turning, or staying level.Instead of shooting down the drone with bullets or lasers, CSIO’s technology projects a high-intensity, specific sound frequency (via specialized speakers called transducers) directly at the flying drone.When sound waves hit the exact frequency the tiny internal chips vibrate at, the chip begins to shake uncontrollably.The drone’s computer gets confused by the false signals from its vibrating sensor. Believing it is spinning out of control, the drone attempts to overcorrect, causing it to wobble, drift off course, or tumble out of the sky.Beyond neutralizing aerial threats, the technology features a dual-action capability designed to safeguard friendly drones operating in the same airspace. Both the attack and protection modules operate independently and feature a modular design, allowing them to be integrated easily into existing commercial off-the-shelf hardware for flexible deployment. Presently, the CSIO has sent an expression of interest for the upscaling of the technology for its commercialisation.
