I saw this video and got my next thought: Can you steal a drone from the air with another remote control or other technique?
No the drone is paired to your RC. Their locked together. At least with the P4P. Also the connection is encrypted.
Now can a signal be jammed. Any radio can be jammed or overloaded but that does not mean a takeover. It be akin to losing signal by being out o f range.
Now can a signal be jammed. Any radio can be jammed or overloaded but that does not mean a takeover. It be akin to losing signal by being out o f range.
Also what is the video? I don’t understand how it relates to your question.
Maybe if you could make a device that could find the RF frequency that the drone is operating on, then send the signal with a larger amplitude to overpower the DJI transmitter.
The video is just an illustration I found here.
It's more than just the frequency. When the aircraft (Rx) and Transmitter/Radio (Tx) are "Bound" together they are encoded so they are only "accepting" information from the right "code". This allows two systems to be on or near the same frequency and not "Shoot" each other down.
It's a LOT more complicated than I described but for the context of the question that should help to explain why you can't "steal" the aircraft with another Transmitter. They have to be BOUND or they don't talk and the binding process has to be done in a very specific and controlled manner or it doesn't happen at all.
BigAl is right of course, but in all honesty anything can be hacked. I bet hacking a drone would take mad skills that are probably focused elsewhere
Forget the RC to bird link, I'm gonna assume that's encrypted. But there are other sensors on there that can be 'manipulated'.. not gonna go into the details but dodgy people could indeed take 'some' control of the drone. They'd not be using a controller though...
Mindful of the forum rules so won’t post links however simple google searches will reveal a proven exploit where the P3 standard can be hijacked and flown by the attacker. There is also a recent demonstrated exploit for the spark. I’m any case simple RF jamming will force the AC into RTH failsafe regardless of what model it is.
That I can't say as it has bigger implications. Let's just say if it happens switching to atti mode ASAP should counteract it.
And if anyone does work out what I'm talking about, maybe best not to post publicly.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Well, operator iniated Atti mode ignores GPS in manual navigation.
So GPS spoofing is one way to redirect or ‘steal’ aircraft and is known to have been used in other situations.
I don’t think it can’t be discussed here short of publishing plans or sources of hardware and software capable of accomplishing it.
It’s not in and of itself a secret.
Fortunately it’s illegal in the USA and there has been recent testing in the US to try and secure the link. These tests are made known so civil entities are not adversely affected.
Not secret no, but you've just enabled someone out there by giving them the idea they'd not thought of. How long before drone jammers play with this? Or worse... Not everyone stays legal.
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It would probably be cheaper and less work for him to just go buy his own drone.
Yeah, cos a simple 1ghz transmitter would be really difficult and expensive to build.
There are jammers that can force the phantom to land or RTL
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Yes, but they are illegal to use in the USA except for Federal Authorities.
Jammers are not limited to Federal authorities. Local police force or authorized commercial operator can purchase/operate the jammers.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Please cite your source.
Here’s mine:
(Note second paragraph in Warning section)
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-1785A1.pdf
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