The Problem
Ever since the Gatwick Airport drone incident, illegal drone usage has been on the rise. The advent of cheap BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) long-range drones may only exacerbate this problem. While drone detection and denial solutions have been developed, a safe and cost-effective drone capture solution remains elusive.

Why would you need to safely capture a drone?

1. The drone has entered restricted airspace without authorization.

2. Capturing the drone may help identify the operator and/or its intended mission.

3. Having the means to capture a drone could deter illegal usage.

Aren't there alternatives to drone capture?

1. Geofencing: Modern drones are prevented from entering restricted airspace by geofencing. However, geofencing can be unreliable and can be bypassed relatively easily.

2. Radio jamming: The radio communication with the drone operator can be blocked. However, drones can be programmed to fly a pre-set route via GPS navigation, and even if their GPS system is jammed, they could potentially use topological navigation or alternatives.

3. Energy weapons: Using energy weapons to shoot a drone down is possible. However, these systems are expensive, can affect friendly targets (especially in urban environments), and their effectiveness is reduced by range and drone coating. For example, a white or reflective object will absorb far less thermal energy from a laser than a dark object.

4. Using other means to shoot it down: This is possible, but a falling drone may be hazardous and may reduce the chance of identifying the operator.

Solution
A drone capture device has been designed as an attachment for a carrier drone. Together, they offer the ability to safely capture a wide range of drones.

Status: TRL 7 (Technology Readiness Level 6)

Features

1. Low cost

2. Mostly 3D printed

3. Reusable

4. Versatile

5. Scalable

Testing
Tests in laboratory conditions and relevant environemtn have been performed successfully. 

IP: Published Pending UK & PCT Patents

Result: The result of this project is the Crown FPV attachemnt