We are proud to announce that DJI has selected Gresco Technology Solutions to be a certified sales, installation, support and training provider for the Aeroscope series. Gresco Technology Solutions recently traveled to Shenzhen, China for training and certification on the Aeroscope’s (a DJI drone detection system) three models: Portable, Stationary G-8 and Stationary G-16.

With over 700,000 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, in the U.S. and nearly 1,200,000 globally, the UAS/drone industry has emerged and is growing rapidly.  However, from a technological, as well as a safety and security standpoint, is the world ready to accept the widespread use of commercial and personal drones throughout everyday life?

Drones bring amazing improvements to the world.  In 2017, as the hurricanes swept across the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean, wreaking havoc across several states, drones took to the skies to help incident commanders and rescue personnel save lives.

Now we’re seeing drone technology move from remote locations for landscape and destination photography, to more urban areas for commercial applications like construction site mapping, building or airplane inspections and more.

As drone technology improves, talks of autonomous drones surveying construction sites in populated areas or conducting beyond visual line-of-sight inspection missions, will someday shift from test missions to daily sightings on your morning jog.

But to realize such a future, the public, private and regulatory sectors must come together to form feasible methods for safely integrating drones into our daily lives and existing infrastructure.

Ensuring airspace safety is a key challenge facing the industry today as the infrastructure must be built to help authorities enforce rules and track unlawful behavior.  For instance, in cases where an operator is flying unlawfully, such as near a prison, a busy airport or other prohibited areas, there needs to be an accountability mechanism that addresses this concern. This would significantly improve the broad public acceptance of drones in society, and thus open doors for more beneficial-use cases and economic opportunities.

DJI’s Aeroscope models act as an “Electronic License Plate Reader” and can be seen as a solution to the enforcement problem. This technology can remotely identify airborne drones within a 20+ mile radius and bring accountability and context to critical operations. By using Aeroscope, public safety, aviation and other authorized agencies can manage their airspace and keep track of a drone’s whereabouts.

Aeroscope’s underlying technology and advantage is that it uses the existing communications link between the drone and its remote controller to collect information about the drone, such as location, distance from the operator, flight path, serial number, and other telemetry data.  If abnormal or suspicious behavior is spotted, law enforcement and other authorized agencies can use the information gathered and act accordingly.

Aeroscope can be deployed today and will work with current-model DJI consumer drones without requiring additional hardware modifications.

Unlike commonly discussed internet-based database methods of identification, Aeroscope relies on the transmission technology already built into all drones. Pilots (commercial or otherwise) could easily comply with any future regulations without worrying about higher prices or other burdens. This means no new equipment to install, no cost, and no permanent database of an enterprise’s commercial operations. Therefore, pilots can fly with confidence knowing that DJI takes the security of their data seriously.

For regulators and security agencies concerned with protecting sensitive locations, the ability to remotely identify drones that are operating unlawfully can be highly beneficial.  By integrating AeroScope, such agencies can achieve an additional layer of security that ultimately provides them with a more comprehensive response mechanism.

So, what about non-DJI drones that already exist in the market?  Other drone manufacturers can easily configure their existing and future drones to transmit identification information in the same way.

As we’ve seen in recent events, drones have incredible potential. They can make businesses work better, advance scientific research, teach young minds about science and so much more. If the industry can properly address concerns about safety, security and privacy, then society stands to benefit from the full potential of commercial drone technology.

DJI has already deployed the Aeroscope system for testing all over the world in airports, prisons, stadiums, and other areas that require additional safety measures. Working with these key partners, DJI can continuously improve the system to ensure AeroScope is a comprehensive solution that addresses the privacy and security of pilots, regulators, aviation and security agencies, while bringing a sense of comfort and familiarity among drone owners, civilians and society at large.

During Gresco’s initial tests, we were able to identify UAS/drones and its pilot 20+ miles away. Gresco is equipped with Aeroscope demo units and can visit your facility for demonstrations tailored to your specific needs. Our team will demonstrate its full capabilities… live! We’ll setup a virtual perimeter around your critical infrastructure and set the appropriate audible alarms to alert you of intrusions. We can even set up SMS text and email alerts containing pertinent information including position and altitude.

For more information, or to schedule a drone demonstration, call 478-315-0812, or email us at [email protected].