Cash offered after drones disrupt flights in China

BBC ^ | April 27,2017 | Chris Baraniuk

[Seizethecarp]

Chinese drone maker DJI is offering up to one million yuan (£112,000) for information about drones that disrupted scores of flights at a Chinese airport. On four days this month - 14, 17, 18 and 21 - drones were blamed for stranding thousands of passengers at Chengdu Shuangliu International. Chinese reports said they caused 60 flight interruptions on 21 April alone. The bounty was a sign that the firm was taking the potential impact on its reputation seriously, suggested Prof David Dunn at the University of Birmingham. "Clearly they're concerned about their brand image, given how much they dominate the drone market," he told the BBC. Prof Dunn pointed out that using on-board software to restrict where drones can fly - known as geofencing, which DJI uses in its drones - was not always successful. "There seems to be an inability to deal with the potential drone threat to air traffic - other than through extraordinary measures like this reward," he said.

[Seizethecarp]

Geofencing on market leader DJI appears to be failing to keep airports safe from drone intrusions. A Link from the article show that Chinese officials have been aggressive in defending their airspace on one occasion:
Chinese army helicopter shot down drone that sparked security alert over Beijing

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1662927/chinese-army-helicopter-shoots-down-drone-sparked-major-security-alert#comments

[UCANSEE2]

It’s those darn Ruskies who are hacking the drones.

; )

[Telepathic Intruder]

Drones operate by radio. A jammer can take them down.

[Seizethecarp]

In the dense urban environment around city airports, I would imagine jammers could jam a lot of things producing unintended consequences...some potentially dangerous?

Also, even some inexpensive drones now can operate autonomously free of radio control.

ISIS is operating cheap toy drones modified to drop little bombs and might be attempting to shield their drones from jamming. Don’t know it this is possible yet at recreational aluminum foil level, but I am sure it is being attempted!