Python Developer Builds a Raspberry Pi That Alerts Drone Pilots (suasnews.com) 26
"A Raspberry Pi, a USB SDR dongle, an LCD a buzzer and a little bit of coding in Python and C has created a very useful alarm for drone and RC model aircraft operators," explains long-time Slashdot reader NewtonsLaw .
The device allows users to set an "alarm" perimeter around their operating area and automatically alert them whenever a manned aircraft with ADSB fitted intrudes into that area. While there are apps like FlightRadar24 that allow you to monitor ADSB-equipped air traffic, this is the first stand-alone hand-held unit that isn't reliant on cellular or Wifi data and which not just monitors aircraft movments but also sounds an alarm according to user-defined parameters.
sUAS News reports: "As an avid proponent of safety within the drone and RC communities, I decided to put my background in electronics engineering and computer software to good use by developing a device that has the potential to ensure the skies remain safe," said Kiwi drone and RC model enthusiast Bruce Simpson.
"The alarm I've developed is not a silver bullet but it is an extremely valuable tool for improving safety... I will be publishing some DIY videos showing people how they can build their own from readily available parts. This will ensure it remains cheap enough to be used by everyone..."
Drone users now call on the manned aviation community to ensure that they play their part by equipping their aircraft with the ADSB technology that has become such an important part of safety in the 21 st century.
sUAS News reports: "As an avid proponent of safety within the drone and RC communities, I decided to put my background in electronics engineering and computer software to good use by developing a device that has the potential to ensure the skies remain safe," said Kiwi drone and RC model enthusiast Bruce Simpson.
"The alarm I've developed is not a silver bullet but it is an extremely valuable tool for improving safety... I will be publishing some DIY videos showing people how they can build their own from readily available parts. This will ensure it remains cheap enough to be used by everyone..."
Drone users now call on the manned aviation community to ensure that they play their part by equipping their aircraft with the ADSB technology that has become such an important part of safety in the 21 st century.
a step further (Score:5, Informative)
https://downloads.aaronia.com/datasheets/solutions/drone_detection/Aaronia_AARTOS_DDS_FAQ.pdf
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Interesting to read but it's a different use case to the one being solved here.
The Pi based solution lets the drone operator identify and take action to avoid aircraft.
Your linked solution is about identifying (and potentially disrupting) drones.
Interesting idea, but... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
So, Strutux doesn't count? (Score:2)
The description seems to be the pieces of a Strutux with a buzzer added.
Airpsace catgories (Score:2)
There are well defined airspace categories, which need to be respected. What we are seeing is that drones get more and more capable, but their operators don't always catch up to the drone capability. The FAA wants to regulate the drone and model flying out of existence. A more sensible approach would be to educate everyone about airspace classes and require unlicensed drone operations to stay in line of sight and under 100 ft/30m AGL or below 10 ft than the tallest building within 100 ft/30 m radius. Flying
Re: (Score:3)
I'm not so sure about line of sight and IFR for drones. Many of them are quite capable of relaying video and using GPS and proximity sensors. Significantly, they are capable of hovering on their own and even returning the way they came should they lose radio contact. It seems a shame to block all of that development and capability.
The airspace is a shared public space. In the past, the only things that could access that were manned aircraft. But that was a matter of capability rather than policy. That has n
ADSB (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Perhaps the price? A certified ADS-B transponder costs over $2,000. That would kill most of the consumer drone market. You cannot use cheap, mass produced transponders, as they have the capability to interfere with other transponders, which makes it a safety issue.
Re: ADSB (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Drones don't need certified transmitters. IN fact, for experimental aircraft, ADS-B can be had for about $500 or so. But I believe a drone capable one can be fitted for around $150 or so. They aren't expensive, and really, if you're flying that ne
Re: (Score:2)
Power consumption, weight and price. ADSB has no place on small racing drones that don't fly high above ground anyway. ADSB would be necessary for bigger drones, perhaps those weighting above 200 kg, and of course flying non-line of sight.
Re: (Score:2)
It's because ADS-B can't handle the additional traffic because they didn't build it with the future in mind. Maybe in twenty or thirty years we'll have a new transponder system that can handle drones.
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We Need Places to Fly--Not More Crap! (Score:2)
Raspberry pi computer (Score:2)
I don't like that they keep touting the RAspberry pi as a computer replacement for kids in poor countries. First off even the latest one is excruciating slow -- a kid would grow up hating computers if exposed to it. Second, when you add a power supply $10, case $7, keyboard $10, mouse $8, SD card $10, and display $100 (retail) .. it costs the same as the cheapest new laptop -- without being portable.
Maybe the pi foundation should work on reducing the price of HD monitors?
Re: Raspberry pi computer (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The only real problem for a Pi when it comes to being a typical general purpose computer is web browsing. That takes ever more and more resources. But we accomplished most of the same user tasks with computers operating in the tens of MHz, a few niche applications like video editing aside. Those people need more PC, but for things like word processing and basic DTP, most graphics (not hardcore photoshop, but basic manipulation, vector graphics, etc.) and most audio editing, a RasPi has plenty of cojones. Yo
Re: (Score:2)
OTOH, the monitor can be more or less free if you connect the Pi to a modern TV. Unlike the old days of using an RF modulator on channel 3 for a poor man's monitor, a modern 1080p TV makes a half-decent monitor when you're not watching TV. I use the living room TV as a temporary monitor while setting up a Pi for headless operation.
But really, I think of a Pi as more suitable for kids who want to experiment and perhaps hook external things up. Burning the mainboad on the family PC would be a real problem, bu
Legit out-of-sight drone flying (Score:2)
I know drones should be flown within line of sight, but there are legitimate applications where this cannot be done. The company I work for does electronics and software related to construction sites, and one drone application is to fly a drone over a site, with a camera to show what is going on. When this was demonstrated to me, the drone definitely had to go out of sight to view the repair work being done on the roof of our factory.
In this use case, keeping clear of air traffic is probably not much of an
Re: (Score:2)
In this use case, keeping clear of air traffic is probably not much of an issue, as aircraft should not be that close to buildings. However, there is the problem that the drone goes out of radio range, maybe due to being shielded by buildings. What should happen then? You cannot just drop the thing to the ground on a busy building site.
Ignoring for the moment that you are supposed to keep your drone in site of operator or an observer that has direct communications with the operator...
I just got what I would call my first "real" drone and it has on board GPS. If it loses contact with its operator, it ascends to a pre-programed height, flies to the GPS location where it took off, and then lands. As it comes back if you can reestablish communications, you can abort the return sequence. Assuming you set the "emergency return altitude" to som
Re: (Score:2)
Some drones are quite capable of returning to a selected waypoint and landing in the event of communications loss. Those aren't even necessarily that expensive.
So now... (Score:2)
A little context (Score:3)
Bruce and other local RC enthusiasts fly regularly with permission from the Tokoroa airport in New Zealand for many years. They often use the runway and the grass taxi ways. Occasionally aircraft do land at or take off there, so the RC flyers have to be on alert for incoming aircraft. They've successfully and safely shared this space with full-scale aircraft for years. Normally they use a handheld radio to listen for the airplanes, which are required to announce themselves on a common frequency, as is the case at many uncontrolled airports. This alarm system adds a layer of safety to that.
The problem Bruce is addressing isn't the RC aircraft endangering airplanes. The problem is the stupid full scale pilots that endanger themselves and others by not announcing themselves and many other pilot errors. Bruce has documented dozens of cases of dangerous and blatant regulations violations by civil aircraft operators at that airport and in New Zealand generally, but the CAA has done absolutely nothing about it, while RC enthusiasts are repeatedly being bludgeoned with increasing "safety" regulations. One time the airport was closed to all air traffic, the runway had crosses on it, a NOTAM was published, and there was drag racing equipment on the runway itself. Yet an idiot landed there anyway, nearly hitting equipment. He got yelled at by the drag racing crew, and then he took off again. As Bruce says, unbelievable. Then there was the case of a pilot (also a journalist) who crashed his plane and out of embarrassment claimed he'd hit a drone. Caused quite a stir. Turned out he was flying too low (well below 500 ft) and must have hit something, and landed upside down in a field. That should have resulted in his license being taken away. But no. Not a thing. But drones are dangerous.
The thing about transponders is that aircraft should not, except near airports on approach, ever fly below 500' AGL. Yet Bruce has seen aircraft do this repeatedly in many places in NZ. No one seems to get in trouble for that, yet that's a far more dangerous thing than RC toys. As Bruce says, if the CAA can't even do its job to regulate full scale aircraft, why are they even thinking about regulating RC toys? The mind boggles.
Re: (Score:2)
This. I wonder how many full scale aircraft will be caught out by devices like this? Not that I expect much to be done about it.
Meanwhile, we have drone SIGHTINGS (or perhaps a large bird, but what the heck, sound red alert!) thousands of feet below being called near misses.