DRONE ENCROACHMENT AVOIDANCE MONITOR
Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.
1 . A method for tracking unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the method comprising:
scanning a region of airspace with two scanning apparatuses, each scanning apparatus comprising one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae, the two scanning apparatuses having different locations;
receiving first radio frequency signals emitted by a first UAV at each of the two scanning apparatuses, a frequency of the first radio frequency signals being a downlink frequency of the first UAV;
processing, based on an angular relationship between the locations of the scanning apparatuses and the first UAV, the first radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the first UAV;
receiving second radio frequency signals emitted by a second UAV at a first one of the two scanning apparatuses; and
tracking both the first UAV and the second UAV.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the first radio frequency signals to determine the first location of the first UAV comprises:
determining a signal strength associated with a the first radio frequency signals at each of the scanning apparatuses;
generating, using the signal strength, first data indicating an angular relationship between the locations of the scanning apparatuses and the first UAV;
processing, using the locations of the scanning apparatuses, the first data to determine the first location of the first UAV
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a second location of the first UAV; and
determining, using the first and second location of the UAV, a velocity of the first UAV.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
one or more of the directional antennae of the first scanning apparatus are configured to rotate in a first plane about a first axis; and
one or more of the directional antennae of the first scanning apparatus are configured to rotate in a second plane about a second axis.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first plane is substantially orthogonal to the second plane.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a rate of rotation of a first one of the directional antennae of the first scanning apparatus is configured to vary throughout a rotation.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the rate of rotation of the first directional antenna is based on a recent location of the first and/or second UAV.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving third radio frequency signals at the first scanning apparatus;
determining that the third radio frequency signals are associated with a designated source; and
filtering, responsive to determining that the third radio frequency signals are associated with the designated source, the third radio frequency signals.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the UAV has a weight of 10 pounds or less.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first scanning apparatus is mounted to a light pole.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the light pole includes a power source connected with the first scanning apparatus.
12 . A system for tracking UAVs, the system comprising:
a plurality of ground data terminals, each ground data terminal comprising an array of one or more directional antennae configured to receive radio frequency signals having a designated frequency, the array of directional antennae having a spatial configuration, each ground data terminal being configured to:
receive radio frequency signals associated with one or more UAVs, a frequency of each radio frequency signal being a downlink frequency of a corresponding UAV;
determine a signal strength associated with each of the radio frequency signals; and
generate, using the signal strength and the spatial configuration, data indicating an angular relationship between a location one of the plurality of ground data terminals and the corresponding UAV;
one or more processors in communication with each of the ground data terminals, the one or more processors operable to:
receive data from at least two of the plurality of ground data terminals;
process, using locations of the at least two ground data terminals, the data from the at least two ground data terminals determine locations of a first UAV and a second UAV;
track both the UAV and the second UAV.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ground data terminals comprises:
one or more ground data terminals positioned within an approach corridor of an airport runway;
one or more ground data terminals positioned within a departure corridor of the airport runway; and
one or more ground data terminals positioned at an end of the airport runway.
14 . The system of claim 12 , the one or more processors further operable to:
determine a second location of the first UAV; and
determine, using the first and second location of the first UAV, a velocity of the first UAV.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
one or more of the directional antennae of a first one of the ground data terminals are configured to rotate in a first plane about a first axis; and
one or more of the directional antennae of the first ground data terminal are configured to rotate in a second plane about a second axis.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein a rate of rotation of a first one of the directional antennae of the first ground data terminal is configured to vary throughout a rotation.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the rate of rotation of the first directional antenna is based on a recent location of the UAV.
18 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code to be executed by one or more processors when retrieved from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code including instructions configured to cause:
scanning a region of airspace with two scanning apparatuses, each scanning apparatus comprising one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae, the two scanning apparatuses having different locations;
processing first radio frequency signals emitted by a first UAV at each of the two scanning apparatuses, a frequency of the first radio frequency signals being a downlink frequency of the first UAV;
processing, based on an angular relationship between the locations of the scanning apparatuses and the first UAV, the first radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the first UAV;
processing second radio frequency signals emitted by a second UAV at a first one of the two scanning apparatuses; and
tracking both the first UAV and the second UAV.
19 . The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein processing the first radio frequency signals to determine the first location of the first UAV comprises:
determining a signal strength associated with the first radio frequency signals at each of the scanning apparatuses;
generating, using the signal strength, first data indicating an angular relationship between the locations of the scanning apparatuses and the first UAV;
processing, using the locations of the scanning apparatuses, the first data to determine the first location of the first UAV.
20 . The computer program product of claim 18 , the program code including further instructions configured to cause:
determining a second location of the first UAV; and
determining, using the first and second location of the UAV, a velocity of the first UAV.