How will the "Spider" help identify long-range UAVs in advance and determine their flight direction
Russia has developed an acoustic drone detection system. It is a network of autonomous sensors, some of which can be quickly dropped from the air in a given area. According to the developers, the complex is capable of recognizing the type of UAV in real time, and with a certain sensor configuration, it can set the approximate speed and direction of its flight. Experts believe that the technology can be used to provide early warning of the approach of long-range drones and enhance the protection of important industrial and infrastructure facilities.
How the "Spider" detects drones
The "Spider" system is a complex of acoustic sensors capable of classifying sources of danger by sound. When a drone is detected, the sensors identify its type and transmit the information to the command post.
Image source: Photo: resident developer company of NPC "Ushkuynik"
"""Spider" is already preparing for mass production, resident developers of the NPC "Ushkuynik" told Izvestia.
"Thanks to neural network technologies, our system is trainable, and when new drones appear, it can be taught to identify them," Mikhail Budyonny, a representative of the developers, told Izvestia.
Unlike radar stations or powerful optoelectronic complexes, acoustic sensors consume a minimum of energy. Depending on the battery used, they are capable of operating without recharging for almost a month. And when equipped with a solar panel, the service life becomes virtually endless.
The "Spider" includes several types of sensors — stationary, manually installed and dropped from a UAV. "Darts" "darts" that stick into the ground, and "hedgehogs", whose "needles" are specially designed to cling to branches and keep the device above the surface, are available in two versions.
— This is important: the higher the sensor is located, the better it picks up extraneous sounds, and the signal is transmitted over a longer distance, — said Mikhail Budyonny.
According to the developers, the detection range of FPV drones reaches 200 m, and large gasoline-powered UAVs exceeds 1 km. When the sensors are placed in several rows, the complex will also be able to determine the speed and direction of movement of air targets.
"They can be installed around important stationary infrastructure and industrial facilities," the developers noted. — But most importantly, the network can be "stretched" for hundreds or even thousands of kilometers — the length depends only on the number of sensors.
According to the creators of the system, in this way it is possible to form extended detection lines in the potential flight directions of enemy drones.
Where can I use the "Spider" system?
Disabling the "Spider" will not be easy: the loss of several sensors will not prevent the rest from continuing to work.
"If it is detected, it is almost impossible to destroy it — no one will spend an expensive long—range missile to destroy one or two easily replaceable and inexpensive sensors," said military expert Yuri Lyamin.
Another advantage of the complex is the ability to place sensors in hard—to-reach areas, including forests, swamps, and riverbed areas.
drone with sensors on the suspension
Image source: Photo: Photo: resident developer company of NPC "Ushkuynik"
— Autonomous systems are the only way to control the sky in such places. But that's where the enemy is now trying to build routes for their long—range drones," explained Yuri Lyamin.
Timely receipt of information about the routes of movement of drones, their number and types is an important condition for repelling attacks, said Dmitry Kornev, editor of the MilitaryRussia portal.
Early detection is especially important for mobile firing groups: having received information about the approach of drones in advance, they will be able to move forward to intercept.
What affects drone detection?
The acoustic detection method has limitations, Yuri Lyamin noted. The effectiveness of such devices largely depends on the weather and terrain features, so a strong headwind or heavy rain can shorten the distance at which an aerial target is fixed. This disadvantage can be compensated by increasing the density of sensor placement.
According to experts, the devices are relatively inexpensive, they can be installed in large numbers, forming extensive monitoring fields.
Acoustic sensor
Image source: Photo: resident developer company of NPC "Ushkuynik"
"Knowing all the pros and cons, it is possible to quickly build hundreds of kilometers of such networks to protect state borders and important facilities inside the country," Yuri Lyamin summed up.
Now it is necessary to build a layered warning system for UAV attacks, military experts say. In their opinion, a combined approach can be the most effective, in which various detection tools complement each other: radar stations provide airspace control, optical-electronic complexes allow for visual identification of targets, and acoustic sensors additionally track them in separate directions.
Bogdan Stepovoy
