Tiny Device Will Detect Domestic Drones

[Purveyor]

Worried about drones spying on you? Soon, a device might be able to send you text and email alerts that let you know when a drone is nearby.

A Washington, D.C.-based engineer is working on the "Drone Shield," a small, Wi-Fi-connected device that uses a microphone to detect a drone's "acoustic signatures" (sound frequency and spectrum) when it's within range.

The company's founder, John Franklin, who has been working in aerospace engineering for seven years, says he hopes to start selling the device sometime this year. He is using the Kickstarter-like IndieGoGo to finance the project.

The device will cost $69 and will be about the size of a USB thumb drive. It will use Raspberry Pi – a tiny, $25 computer – and commercially available microphones to detect drones. He says he imagines that people will attach the Drone Shield to their fences or roofs to protect their home from surveillance.

MORE...

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/01/tiny-device-will-detect-domestic-drones

[bunnies]

1. This guy will be a millionaire.

How long before big gov. demands a list of buyers?

[Purveyor]

2. I'll have to have one just because I'm a gadget freak but first on my list is a 'dash-cam' for the

truck.

As far as the gov list for the drone detectors...pay with cash money!

[bunnies]

4. yep. cash is definitely the way to go.

And Im definitely gettin one. Especially since just anybody can buy a drone. I had no idea. Seems like there no expectation of privacy anywhere anymore. Its so messed up.

[HereSince1628]

7. I agree with your priorities...capturing video of dumbest drivers = meh, but

capturing shots of incoming asteroids...PRICELESS!!!

Go for the dash-cam!!

[snooper2]

3. how exactly would that protect your home from surveillance?

Like one of those deer whistle things you put on the front bumper

[Demeter]

5. The idea is to know when you are surveilled

like radar detectors...and I'd like to buy one, too!

[randome]

11. So you can, what? Stop baking meth? Stop having sex? What?

This guy WILL be a millionaire. Because there are a lot of frightened people in America!

[Demeter]

23. Have grounds to sue. Or retaliate. Or relax.

Let me tell you a true story--

I provide home help for elderly. One client was convinced that a social worker in the building was breaking into her apartment with a stolen pass key and using her bathroom, poking through her stuff, and stealing items. This client has a history of mental issues, and was very agitated by the thought.

So we got a surveillance camera that looks like a digital clock, and I installed it in a see-through lockbox mounted on the top of a book shelf, so it would be secure but not noticeable, pointing right at her door.

After a year (or more, it's hard to remember) of motion-detection/photography that never showed anyone breaking into the apartment, my client is much less paranoid, much more stable, and hasn't been hospitalized. She considers this all my accomplishment, but she was able to relax because she had proof of security in her home, and the ability to believe the results of her surveillance were factual.

Anything that helps people be less scared is a good thing. Even a gun can be good, provided it is handled with utmost professional respect. The thing with a gun is, one needs constant training and a level of expertise most people will never attain. Cameras and computers are much more user-friendly.

[FSogol]

9. Those are tiger whistles. I haven't seen a single tiger since I added mine.

[Robb]

13. Pff. I got the tiger rock.

Only fools and charlatans promote the whistle.

[longship]

6. Snapping my fingers keeps wild rhinos out of Michigan.

Works real good, too. After all, one doesn't want to get stampeded while walking to the mailbox.

Of course, just kidding.

This guy's going to make a fortune, but I am skeptical whether this device actually can discriminate a drone from a bumblebee. We have a lot of those around here. And don't get me started about the hummingbirds.

At least I'm safe from rhinos. Oops! Almost forgot. <snap> <snap>

[Fumesucker]

8. You'd be surprised I suspect, the same technology is used by submarines to detect other subs

In an ocean filled with all kinds of noise both natural and artificial.

Spectrum Lab is a free PC software that would do it.

http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.html

[longship]

15. The neighbors cutting trees with a chain saw would probably trigger the thing.

Out here in the midst of the national forest that happens all the time.

Not really making light of the idea, and it certainly is interesting, but I detect maybe an inordinate fear of drones in these forums. The technology is ubiquitous; even high school students are building them.

I would find it interesting to see the upcoming drone wars when high schools compete to send out their drones and deploy this detection equipment to intercept the opponent school's drones.

It could be fun.

[randome]

16. Panty raids conducted by drone!

[longship]

17. And sororities deploying these things en masse.

Kind of politically incorrect, though.

[Fumesucker]

18. Odd, I detect an inordinate love of drones on DU

The numbers 80 and 20 come to mind.

If you haven't used something like a spectrum analyzer it's hard to really credit how sensitive and selective they can be.

Spectrum Lab for instance was originally designed to detect amateur radio signals from the Earth bouncing off the Moon, Earth>Moon>Earth communications.

I have a tiny quadrotor myself and was reasearching building a bigger one until I realized how dangerous they can be, there's a considerable number of pretty graphic images of injuries inflicted by them on one of the hobbyist sites. The chance of hurting myself or someone else with one just wasn't worth the fun involved.

[geek tragedy]

10. Scam.

No way to verify that the technology works.

[randome]

12. Ah, but that's the beauty of it. You also can't verify that it DOESN'T work!

[warrprayer]

14. let me know

when the app comes out

[Katashi_itto]

19. Need to work on Home Defense, Surface to Air Missiles for Drone Destruction.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Here you go:

[Katashi_itto]

21. Awesome!!! Where can I buy that? it looks fun

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Looks like thinkgeek has one.

I dont know if I'd spend 30 bucks on it, but its a great idea.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8a0f/

[Sgent]

24. To Doubters

It will not be 100% every instance, but personal experience has taught me that it can be fairly accurate.

I have a wind velocity meter on my phone which uses the microphone. After comparing it to weather stations and other purpose made items, I've discovered about 95% accuracy -- so not bad.

It may take a minute or two to pick up, but I bet such a device (esp. if outside) would be fairly accurate.

On the other hand, an antenna looking for R/F radio broadcasts on drone channels may be just as accurate.