Have you ever wondered why drones have become wildly famous nowadays? Well, they offer a convenient, affordable, and accessible way to gather data in locations and from viewpoints that were challenging in the past. Drones have many advantages. For instance, they can check electric facilities, inspect bridges for safety, identify diseased trees, and locate wildfires. However, beyond their traditional advantageous standpoints, many individuals use drones for problematic and criminal activities. Even the most beneficial drones can lead to disastrous results. Whether it is about drug or contraband smuggling or unauthorized surveillance over sensitive areas, drones can cause atrocious incidents that anti-drone technology can stop.
Unsure how? Well, here are some incidents of drone defender technologies protecting stadiums, arenas, and other public events!
Preserving Event Safety:
Drones infiltrating events has become a growing concern. One striking incident happened at Wrigley Field in 2020 when a man shortly landed his drone at the mid-field, causing a delay and threatening the safety of the stadium. Similarly, during Albuquerque's wildly popular Balloon Fiesta, more than 450 drones were flown into restricted airspace, jeopardizing the safety of the drones and the balloons. This wasn’t the end. In Florida, a drone operator was caught during the 2021 Super Bowl after he flew his drone into a temporarily restricted airspace around the stadium.
Safeguarding Airspace and Restricted Areas:
Beyond event venues, the need for safe airspace extends to national security and air safety. Instances of unauthorized drones flying into restricted bases in the United Kingdom have been alarmingly high, with more than 50 cases reported in the past year alone. Moreover, the Ottawa Airport authority spotted more than 1,600 drone flying in the adjacencies in just one month, underscoring the magnitude of the issue. Anti-drone systems play a crucial role in identifying and neutralizing these threats, ensuring safe skies.
Fighting Drug and Contraband Trafficking:
Criminals have swiftly adopted drones as tools for their illicit activities, using them to transport dangerous and contraband items. Detecting these drones before they deliver their cargo is crucial in combating this new form of smuggling. In northern India, drone detection is being explored in response to drone delivering weapons and drugs, and possibly even targeting defense facilities. In Montreal, a man was arrested for delivering contraband and drugs to a prison by using a drone.
Similarly, in Georgia, two individuals were apprehended when their drone was detected trying to transport 16 pounds of tobacco, marijuana, and 15 mobile phones. By employing anti-drone systems that can detect and counter illegal drones, law enforcement agencies can stay one step ahead of criminals and protect society from the risks posed by drone-based trafficking.
The bottom line
There’s no denying that the internet audience goes rogue for unique footage, and with the reduced costs and widespread availability of drones, and increasing demand for unique videos on the internet, many people fly drones into government establishments, concerts, sports stadiums to interrupt events, avoid paying ticket prices or extract information. Drones also pose collision risks in the airspace, which is why anti-drone systems, such as handheld anti-drone devices and drone radars can work brilliantly to ensure air safety.