Investigadores de la Universidad de Würzburg (Alemania) han desarrollado capacidades para la seguridad civil en aeropuertos, estadios, cárceles y otras instalaciones críticas. Se trata de un sistema integrado de sensores e interceptores “No letales”, que pueden detectar, identificar, seguir y capturar vehículos autónomos aéreos (UAS) que ingresan en sectores de circulación aérea restringida. Denominado Innovative Drone Defence System (IDDS), sus sensores proporcionan la detección inicial del intruso, el interceptor realiza la aproximación y asistido por IA procede al reconocimiento de la amenaza, capturandola mediante el empleo de una red desplegable de alta velocidad que lo retiene y preserva. Este aspecto resulta fundamental para que los organismos de seguridad puedan posteriormente realizar las pericias necesarias para determinar el origen y operadores del mismo.
German researchers have advanced civil security with an autonomous interceptor drone capable of detecting, tracking, and capturing unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entering restricted airspace.
Engineers at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg developed the interceptor drone to address the growing security risks created by the rapid spread of UAVs. The drone is designed to protect airports, stadiums, prisons, and other vulnerable sites targeted by rogue drones.
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s long-standing Research for Civil Security program, the system uses an extendable net to safely capture intruding drones without causing debris or collateral damage.
The team’s work began in 2017 under the MIDRAS project. Over the next several years, the researchers refined their detection, tracking, and interception methods. The system demonstrated early proof-of-concept capabilities during a live demo for security authorities in 2020.
Improving air security
Building on the 2020 experience, the researchers advanced to the flagship IDAS (Innovative Drone Defence System) project, where they transformed the initial prototype into a fully functional interceptor drone.
Following extensive consultations with police officers, the novel system developed under IDAS relies on a single, larger interceptor drone, rather than a coordinated fleet.
“In close consultation with the police, who are the end users, we opted for a single larger drone rather than several drones flying cooperatively,” Julian Rothe, PhD, a research assistant at the university’s department of computer science, said.
This design simplifies deployment and enhances overall reliability, making the system easier for security teams to operate during real-world incidents. “This setup meets practical requirements much more effectively,” Rothe continued.
According to Rothe, one of IDAS’s notable innovations is its autonomous target acquisition system. The interceptor relies on LiDAR sensors to detect a potential intruder.
It then uses an onboard camera with AI-based recognition to verify that the target is indeed a drone rather than a bird or any other harmless object. Once verified, the drone moves into position.
A net-based solution
The Würzburg researchers reported that when the intercepting drone closes in on its target, it deploys an extendable net. The mechanism unfurls mid-flight to trap the unauthorized drone with minimal damage and safely.
This point is essential as security agencies often need the captured drone intact for forensic analysis to determine its origin and operator. When captured, the rogue drone is carried to a predefined safe landing zone.
“Ensuring that the incoming drone is captured safely and remains as undamaged as possible was crucial,” Rothe concluded in a press release.
Another significant upgrade is that the system operates entirely without a pilot. As per the team, security staff only need to trigger a start button, typically after an airport or perimeter monitoring system detects a potential threat.
From that moment, the interceptor handles navigation, target acquisition, pursuit, and capture autonomously. With the technology now complete, the researchers expect to continue expanding their drone portfolio.
While no new projects have been formally announced, the team disclosed that several follow-on ideas are already in development. They believe that fully autonomous drone-to-drone defense could become a practical tool for civil security agencies.
