Project "Development of specialized unmanned aerial vehicle for detection and neutralization of unmanned aerial vehicles"

Project – „Development of specialized unmanned aerial vehicle for detection and neutralization of unmanned aerial vehicles“. Nr. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-01-0029

Project executor – Vilnius University

Project partners - Space Science and Technology Institute, UAB "Žvelk aukščiau"

Project leader – Dr. Saulius Rudys

Budget – 700 000 €

Research is funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the supported activity "Targeted Research in Smart Specialization Areas" under Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718.

Project implementation – start 2018 January 8; end – 2022 January 7.

Aim of the project: development of effective (more effective than is available in this moment) solution for unmanned aerial vehicle detection and neutralizing.

Summary:
Technologies of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are developing especially rapidly these days. Field of implementation of UAVs is extremely wide – from consumer type to the complex scientific and military implementations. Unfortunately same as other technologies UAVs can be both beneficial and dangerous for the society. UAVs that fly into the manned air traffic zones, carrying illegal payloads (like drugs) or used as terrorist tools are especially dangerous. UAV technologies are developing much faster than the means for their control. There are many solutions for UAV detection and neutralization suggested worldwide, nonetheless all of these solutions have many drawbacks. Essential problem in UAV detection is that they are small (often confused with the birds), may emit low noise and electromagnetic radiation, reflect little of the radar signals. Means for neutralization are normally ground based and are of limited range. There are tendencies to use other UAVs for neutralization (thus increasing the range of operation), nonetheless in this case there are problems in detection, target approaching and UAV control at rapid changing environment. Therefore, for this moment there are no effective UAV detection and neutralizing technologies available. The main goal of the project – develop an effective (more effective than is available in this moment) solution for UAV detection and neutralizing. This will be achieved by transferring radar, optical and other detection and neutralization means and technologies directly to the “hunter” UAV, which will be intended to search, detect and neutralize potentially harmful UAVs. The possibility of implementation of low cost consumer radars into the UAV will be researched, thus decreasing the total cost of the system. The main challenge of the project – implement radar on the fixed wing aircraft (UAV) with payload of 25-50 kg, develop reliable hostile UAVs detection and tracking algorithms, ensure reliable signal transmission in complex electromagnetic environment, ensure effective neutralization of hostile UAVs.