This Rifle Can Shoot Down Small Drones Without Destroying Them

Battelle’s DroneDefender is possibly one of the best anti-drone machines in the world today. What makes this machine unique is that it utilizes “invisible beam delivered in an ultraportable, gun-like form,” as Mashable describes the device.

TheDroneDefender uses radio control frequency disruption to bring a drone down without destroying it in any way. For industry experts, that last part is crucial since the feature will allow users to get hold of the drone intact and investigate its source at the same time. This could be pretty handy for, say, airport security that needs a tool to stop drones from flying into restricted airspace or for preventing industrial espionage.

The Battelle DroneDefender has a 400-meter range and can jam ISM bands and GPS signals.

The DroneDefender can run up to 5 hours of continuous use and has a range of 400 meters. It can jam ISM bands and GPS signals. It’s surprisingly lightweight too since it merely weighs less than 10 pounds.

You can see it in action on the video below where a user successfully – and quite easily – jams a small drone.

Watch the video demonstration here:

Dan Stamm, the lead researcher of the project, said:

“This is just the kind of tool we need to safely counter a drone threat. The DroneDefender can help protect us from those who may wish to do us harm. It can help us in numerous settings, from the White House lawn to bases and embassies overseas, from prisons and schools to historic sites. It easily and reliably neutralizes the threat.”

Unfortunately though, a quick check on the official Battelle website revealed that the DroneDefender has been taken down from their gallery.

When reached for an explanation, a company representative just shared:

“FCC regulations (47 CFR 15) prohibit the marketing or sale of this device to entities other than U.S. Government agencies. We are examining ITAR [International Traffic in Arms Regulations] and other export regulations at this time. Due to communication spectrum regulations and legal limitations on its use, we do not have near-term plans to pursue commercial sales.”

So yep. It’s a bummer that only the government would be able to play with this toy soon!

H/T: Mashable