Drone tracking technology involves monitoring and locating drones in real time. As drones become increasingly prevalent for various purposes, including intelligence gathering, military operations, law enforcement, and homeland security, the demand for effective drone tracking systems has surged. These systems ensure safety, security, and privacy protection in airspace management.
Drone Tracking & Direction Finding (DF) technology is critical in identifying and tracking drones by determining the direction from which their signals originate. This technology is beneficial for tracking drones based on their radio frequency (RF) transmissions, which facilitate communication between the drone and its operator.
As the demand for precise detection and identification grows, implementing DF systems as part of an integrated solution has become increasingly complex due to the congested radio spectrum. The DF sensor consists of an array of antennas that operate in parallel to provide 360° coverage. The DF system can accurately estimate the direction vector of the detected signal source by analysing the phase (time) differences of the signals received by different antennas.
The accuracy of the estimated location improves with the number and arrangement of deployed sensors. While a single DF sensor can provide the drone’s direction, a network of DF sensors (with a minimum of two sensors) placed in different locations can determine the drone’s 3D location. This capability is crucial for any counter-UAS solution, especially when precise detection and accurate geolocation are required to trigger other response systems. The DF Unit offers various deployment configurations suitable for stationary, portable, or rapid deployment scenarios.
Netline’s DroneNet product line is a holistic EW solution for Counter-Drone defense
and is available in multiple configurations, systems and sub-systems alike.