Drone Analytics - Getting started with the basics 🚀

Drone Analytics - Getting started with the basics 🚀

About

SkeyDrone Drone Analytics is a software tool designed for drone detection post-processing. 

Some fundamentals

To be able to easily use the Drone Analytics application, first some fundamentals will be introduced. As a start, the different types of sensors which are used to detect air traffic will be covered, along with the terms ‘cooperative’ and ‘non-cooperative’. 
  1. Sensors

The Drone Radar gets its data not only from the one or more sensors that have been installed for your organisation, SkeyDrone collects data from many different sources, incl Mode-S radar data, telemetry C2 link... The data is split into three main groups, which, depending on your license, can be visible. Depending on a drone’s willingness to broadcast its drone-related information, drone detections are deemed cooperative or non-cooperative.
  1. ADSB signals: cooperative

ADSB (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is a transmission technology used in aviation that enables aircraft to automatically transmit their precise position, altitude, and other relevant information to ground stations and other aircraft. It is mainly used by manned air traffic and is very rare to be used by unmanned air traffic. As pilots utilizing ADSB willingly transmit a signal containing their aircraft-related information, detected through an ADSB antenna, they are categorized as 'cooperative' traffic.

  1. Direct Remote ID: cooperative: 
Direct Remote ID (RemoteID) is a transmission technology used in unmanned aviation that enables drones to automatically transmit their precise position, altitude, serial number, and other information at a lower electrical cost than ADSB, hence its use in the UAV industry. RemoteID is only used by unmanned traffic. Just like ADSB, pilots using RemoteID are willingly broadcasting the drone’s information. For that reason, it is also deemed ‘cooperative’.        
  1. RF detection: non-cooperative
Drones involved in unlawful activities are generally not using RemoteID (or ADSB for that matter). For that reason, the radio signal (RF) between the controller of the drone and the drone itself is being detected using an antenna. Likewise, the location of the drone, its altitude, serial number, and other information can be detected. As these pilots are not broadcasting their information willingly to third parties, drone detections originating from RF detection are deemed ‘non-cooperative’.
  1. Flight Plans

When drone pilots intend to fly their drones within an organization-created Control Zone, they need a flight plan to carry out an authorized flight without triggering an alert. These flight plans can be created using the SkeyDrone Drone Radar app, a process which will be explained later. Additionally, if your organization has obtained an official flight authorization within skeyes DSA or an operation within Unifly UTM, it will automatically be visible within the SkeyDrone Drone Radar app. These, along with the flight plans crafted within the app, are collectively categorized under the label 'Flight Plans'.

Drones equipped with a flight plan, regardless of complete conformity to that flight plan, fall under the 'authorized' category. Deviating from the stipulated lateral area, altitude, or time detailed in the flight plan classifies them as 'non-conforming'. Nonetheless, they do retain the 'authorized' classification.

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