Hardware Drone Detection System Overview

This is a multi-sensor drone detection system designed to run on embedded hardware (Raspberry Pi/Jetson) that detects and identifies drones using four different sensor types working together.

Core Components

1. Four Detection Sensors

• RF Sensor (HackRF One): Scans radio frequencies (868/915 MHz) to detect drone control/video signals
• LIDAR: Measures precise distance and 3D position using laser scanning
• Camera: Provides visual confirmation and drone type identification
• Radar: Detects moving objects using Doppler effect

2. Sensor Fusion Engine

The system combines data from all sensors:

• Weighted confidence scoring from each sensor
• Drone signature matching against known profiles (DJI, Autel, Military, etc.)
• Threat level assessment (CRITICAL, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW)

3. Hardware Integration

• GPIO controls: LEDs and buzzer for physical alerts
• Real hardware drivers: HackRF, GPIO, Camera libraries
• Power management: Adjustable for embedded deployment

How It Works

Detection Process

1. Sensors collect data simultaneously
2. Individual processing extracts features (frequency, position, visual confidence)
3. Data fusion combines all sensor inputs
4. Threat assessment calculates risk level
5. Alerts triggered via LEDs, buzzer, database, and web interface

Example Scenario

text

RF: Detects 915MHz signal (DJI frequency)

Camera: Sees quadcopter shape (85% confidence)

LIDAR: Measures 45m distance, 10m altitude

Radar: Confirms 8m/s movement

→ FUSION: "DJI Phantom detected, 75% confidence, MEDIUM threat"

Key Features

Technical

• Real-time processing: 10Hz update rate
• Multi-sensor redundancy: Works even if some sensors fail
• Configurable thresholds: Adjustable detection sensitivity
• Data logging: SQLite database for detection history

Hardware

• Embedded optimized: Low power consumption (15W)
• Physical indicators: LED/buzzer alerts
• Remote monitoring: WebSocket server on port 8082
• All-weather capable: Works in various conditions

Output & Alerts

• Console display: Real-time detection summaries
• Database storage: Permanent record of all detections
• Physical alerts: Red LED + buzzer for high threats
• Web interface: Remote monitoring dashboard
• Log files: System status and error tracking

Use Cases

• Airport security: Drone intrusion detection
• Military bases: Unauthorized drone monitoring
• Critical infrastructure: Power plants, government facilities
• Event security: Concerts, sports events
• Privacy protection: Residential/office areas

Advantages Over Single-Sensor Systems

1. Higher accuracy: Multiple sensors reduce false positives
2. Better identification: Can determine drone type/model
3. Position tracking: 3D location and velocity estimation
4. Robust operation: Continues working if sensors fail
5. Adaptive detection: Different sensors excel in different conditions

System Requirements

• Hardware: Raspberry Pi 4 + HackRF + Sensors
• Power: 5V/3A DC supply
• Storage: 32GB+ for logging
• Network: Optional for remote monitoring

This system provides commercial-grade drone detection using open-source software and affordable hardware, making sophisticated drone monitoring accessible for various security applications.