Saturday, 5 March 2016

This Bazooka Takes Down Camera Drones by Firing Net Rockets

SkyWall100-Front-Shot.web_

It looks like the future is going to be full of scary-looking weapons that are designed to take down rogue drones. The latest one: a shoulder-mounted anti-drone bazooka.

The defensive weapon is called the SkyWall100, and it’s a “man portable drone defense” system being developed by a UK company called OpenWorks Engineering.

SkyWall100-Side-Shot.web_

It’s not as fancy as that futuristic energy weapon that brings down drones with radio waves, but it may be quite effective nonetheless.

The SkyWall100 can be used by a single person and is light enough (~10kg/22lbs) to be carried around. It uses compressed air to shoot the projectile, so it’s nearly silent and can be used in public without causing people to panic.

Projectile.web_

SkyWall100-Launch.web_

Once the projectile is fired at the drone with an advanced targeting system, a net inside emerges to capture the vehicle. A parachute is then automatically deployed to safely lower the drone to the ground.

Caputred-Net.web_

Other specs and features include a range of 100m, a rechargeable battery, a reload time of just 8 seconds, and a holographic reticule with a distance readout.

Here’s a promo video introducing the SkyWall100 and showing it in action:

No word yet on when we might see this weapon actually deployed or how much each unit costs, but it’s joining an ever-growing field of anti-drone countermeasures, from massive high-tech contraptions to net- and web-slinging drones to specially-trained eagles.

(via OpenWorks Engineering via Amateur Photographer)



from PetaPixel http://petapixel.com/2016/03/05/bazooka-takes-camera-drones-firing-net-rockets/

No comments:

Post a Comment