Overview of AeroScope, a New DJI System to Track and Identify Drones

[LuvMyTJ]

Chinese manufacturer DJI just announced a new technology to identify and track airborne drones. Dubbed AeroScope, this system takes advantages of all the telemetry data sent by the aircraft to give the authorities a detailed vision of the drone presence in a local airspace. This system is mature and has been installed at two international airports since April. Here are the technical details and legal challenges associated with this technology.

How Does It Work? Read more here at the source: Overview of AeroScope, a New DJI System to Track and Identify Drones

 

[BigAl07]

Very interesting

 

[LuvMyTJ]

Very interesting

Basically what their previous 'white paper' said. As long as the access is limited to law enforcement, airports, etc.

 

[WV. Rootman]

Looks good on paper, but things can get abused quickly. DJI knows how to make money and cover it’s butt. Hackers are going to make money changing the frequencies on DJI products. And life goes on.

 

[Slickvolt]

I think this will make ppl stop logging in/connecting to DJI to get FW patches or updates...as that is the very mechanism used by DJI to bring our telemetry data off our machines to DJI.

 

[Meta4]

I think this will make ppl stop logging in/connecting to DJI to get FW patches or updates...as that is the very mechanism used by DJI to bring our telemetry data off our machines to DJI.

There is no mechanism that brings our telemetry data off our machines to DJI.
Your Phantom and controller have a range of only a few kilometres.
How do you think they could send your telemetry to DJI and why do you think DJI would have any interest in your telemetry?

 

[With The Birds]

If the DJI lawyers can sell it to the authorities this is going to happen if we like it or not with other manufacturers following suit. The advantage might be that manned AC position could be broadcast to UAV operators automatically and in real time over cellular where available. That would be very cool. Personally I’m not worried about it, I don’t intentionally fly where I shouldn’t,

 

[JackH]

If the DJI lawyers can sell it to the authorities this is going to happen if we like it or not with other manufacturers following suit. The advantage might be that manned AC position could be broadcast to UAV operators automatically and in real time over cellular where available. That would be very cool. Personally I’m not worried about it, I don’t intentionally fly where I shouldn’t,

When a new Ac firmware starts transmitting it's location even when off so they can locate your house........time to be worried.

 

[anotherlab]

When a new Ac firmware starts transmitting it's location even when off so they can locate your house........time to be worried.

Worried about what and who is "they"?

 

[anotherlab]

I think this will make ppl stop logging in/connecting to DJI to get FW patches or updates...as that is the very mechanism used by DJI to bring our telemetry data off our machines to DJI.

That's not how AeroScope works. All it's doing is to listen in on radio traffic between a DJI AC and it's RC. From that data stream, it can get the registration number, location, heading, and speed. This lets airports know about sUAV activity in their area. If a helicopter is flying in or out an airport, the ATC can let the pilot know that there are drones flying and where they are. That avoids situations where the drone was flying legally and did not have enough notice to get out of the way of the helicopter.

AeroScope will work whether or not you update your drone. There's nothing to opt in or opt out of.

 

[schlepprock]

I may just sell my P4 and start building racing drones. That way all of my play is on my property.

 

[With The Birds]

When a new Ac firmware starts transmitting it's location even when off so they can locate your house........time to be worried.

Worried about what?

 

[tcope]

Looks good on paper, but things can get abused quickly. DJI knows how to make money and cover it’s butt. Hackers are going to make money changing the frequencies on DJI products. And life goes on.

Changing serial info, perhaps. But I don't think that will happen. Not worth it. Changing freq on the drone and the receiver both would be difficult. You can go outside the set freq anyway and the data will still be sent on the same signal used to control the drone. Much easier to simply not use a DJI product if you want to fly in restricted space and not be detected.

 

[WV. Rootman]

Changing serial info, perhaps. But I don't think that will happen. Not worth it. Changing freq on the drone and the receiver both would be difficult. You can go outside the set freq anyway and the data will still be sent on the same signal used to control the drone. Much easier to simply not use a DJI product if you want to fly in restricted space and not be detected.

Many people can't understand why people value privacy, it isn't to be able to do something wrong. When ss#'s came out they made a law that it couldn't be used for Id purposes. They valued their privacy. They had a different mind set than today's people. Clinton quietly did away with that law. We are being conditioned to give everything over to the government. Let the government take care of everything. That what's Russia did in the old days. It didn't work. Our old values made us a country of opportunity and prominence in the world. Our socialistic values has brought chaos and a breaking down of values, which in turn brings down our society/ government. My years have seen the change.

 

[tcope]

Many people can't understand why people value privacy, it isn't to be able to do something wrong. When ss#'s came out they made a law that it couldn't be used for Id purposes. They valued their privacy. They had a different mind set than today's people. Clinton quietly did away with that law. We are being conditioned to give everything over to the government. Let the government take care of everything. That what's Russia did in the old days. It didn't work. Our old values made us a country of opportunity and prominence in the world. Our socialistic values has brought chaos and a breaking down of values, which in turn brings down our society/ government. My years have seen the change.

Okay.... but I mentioned nothing about this.

However, this is completely different. It's more like driving. If you want to operate a vehicle on public roads, you need to register the vehicle with your personal information. You also need to obtain a drivers license with your personal information. You don't have a right to drive and you don't have a right to fly a drone. If DJI requires you to give your personal information to them, you don't need to. You can simply not use their product.

There are other ways around this. Who says you need to give DJI your correct personal information when you register? This system will help the authorities know when a drone is where it's not suppose to be so that they can be proactive... but I don't see it being useful in finding out who is/was flying the drone. In that way it's a feel good system.

 

[WV. Rootman]

Okay.... but I mentioned nothing about this.

However, this is completely different. It's more like driving. If you want to operate a vehicle on public roads, you need to register the vehicle with your personal information. You also need to obtain a drivers license with your personal information. You don't have a right to drive and you don't have a right to fly a drone. If DJI requires you to give your personal information to them, you don't need to. You can simply not use their product.

There are other ways around this. Who says you need to give DJI your correct personal information when you register? This system will help the authorities know when a drone is where it's not suppose to be so that they can be proactive... but I don't see it being useful in finding out who is/was flying the drone. In that way it's a feel good system.

At the moment I can drive my car without being on radar and all my information displayed.

 

[Slickvolt]

There is no mechanism that brings our telemetry data off our machines to DJI.
Your Phantom and controller have a range of only a few kilometres.
How do you think they could send your telemetry to DJI and why do you think DJI would have any interest in your telemetry?

No, that’s not how I mean it. It sounds like you think I’m taking about as you fly. I’m really talking about after flight. When you launch the DJI app and log into DJI, not only can you look at your telemetry data that’s sitting in the DJI GO APP, but so can DJI if they so choose.
Now where I developed “this idea” from was specifically from the US Army which has banned DJI products from operational use, for these very reasons. It doesn’t necessarily mean DJI is doing it, but they absolutely can, and the Army can’t have operational security compromised...and I would guess many, particularly Americans, would probably not want that information compromised either. Now it’s use for enforcement is huge. So everybody should be aware,

 

[sar104]

At the moment I can drive my car without being on radar and all my information displayed.

Unless LE happens to be watching, in which case your license plate gives away all that information.

In any case, if you want to fly in the NAS then you are going to have to accept some level of surveillance. Too many people seem to want all the privileges of regular, manned aviation, without any of the registration, licensing, regulation, training or monitoring that goes with it.

 

[sar104]

No, that’s not how I mean it. It sounds like you think I’m taking about as you fly. I’m really talking about after flight. When you launch the DJI app and log into DJI, not only can you look at your telemetry data that’s sitting in the DJI GO APP, but so can DJI if they so choose.
Now where I developed “this idea” from was specifically from the US Army which has banned DJI products from operational use, for these very reasons. It doesn’t necessarily mean DJI is doing it, but they absolutely can, and the Army can’t have operational security compromised...and I would guess many, particularly Americans, would probably not want that information compromised either. Now it’s use for enforcement is huge. So everybody should be aware,

What does the app sharing (or not sharing) data with DJI have to do with the topic of the thread?

 

[Slickvolt]

Unless LE happens to be watching, in which case your license plate gives away all that information.

In any case, if you want to fly in the NAS then you are going to have to accept some level of surveillance. Too many people seem to want all the privileges of regular, manned aviation, without any of the registration, licensing, regulation, training or monitoring that goes with it.

It’s not that bad really, plus now they have the “sports” pilot rating for light aircraft that they back off on most of the harder regulations, like yearly medical etc...a lot of older pilots move to that class. Much cheaper way to fly...or keep flying