Addressing Security Concerns Posed by Micro-Drones
Ibtechar’s innovative approach to addressing the growing security concerns posed by micro-drones culminated in developing a comprehensive drone tracking system to test the feasibility of registering commercial drones to a named owner and monitoring or restricting their use as required — for example, preventing incursion into geo-fenced areas.
Overview and Objectives
The proliferation of micro-drones has introduced new potential threats to critical infrastructures, VIP residences, national borders, and military bases. In response, Barzan Holdings issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a GPS tracking system capable of mitigating these risks. The goal was to develop a proof of concept (PoC) that demonstrated effective registration, tracking, control, and management of drones to ensure safety and security.
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Proposed solution
Ibtechar proposed a holistic GPS tracking system featuring an onboard low-weight, low-power tracking chip paired with robust monitoring and control software. This system includes both back-end administrative and front-end user access, complete with firmware, server, and database support. Key features of the solution include real-time tracking, geo-fencing, anti-tampering mechanisms, and cellular network communication. The output data includes GPS location, speed, altitude, azimuth, temperature, pressure, battery level, and tampering alerts.
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Architecture
The COVID-19 global pandemic introduced significant challenges, including team members being dispersed worldwide and working across different time zones. Additionally, there were shortages of modules and components necessary for the project. The project had a four-month deadline to deliver a PoC from scratch, necessitating efficient and effective project management. Executing flight tests required authorisations and faced logistical hurdles, compounded by a lack of human resources to conduct these tests.
Project challenges
The COVID-19 global pandemic introduced significant challenges, including team members being dispersed worldwide and working across different time zones. Additionally, there were shortages of modules and components necessary for the project. The project had a four-month deadline to deliver a PoC from scratch, necessitating efficient and effective project management. Executing flight tests required authorisations and faced logistical hurdles, compounded by a lack of human resources to conduct these tests.
Achievements
Despite these challenges, the project achieved significant milestones. The successful design and development of the tracker PCB, including the external casing, were completed. Comprehensive tests were conducted, with 355 flight tests executed across 16 locations throughout Qatar and 586 tests performed without flying the drone.
Impact
Ibtechar’s drone tracker solution provided numerous benefits
- Geo-fence zone management for restricted areas with real-time notifications.
- Enhanced user and event management capabilities ensured effective monitoring and control.
- Immediate SMS alert notifications were set up for unauthorised drone activities.
- Detailed recording and monitoring of drone paths to facilitate data charting and export for analysis and reporting.
Continuous improvement
Throughout the project, Barzan Holdings provided feedback and requested several changes. In the first iteration, issues with notification display and location tracking were identified and addressed in tests conducted in December 2020.
The second iteration, in January 2021, implemented additional features requested by the client after the first round of tests, including Map History, Data Export, and reduced latency. The new features were exhaustively tested and validated in collaboration with Ooredoo Telecom experts.
The project concluded with final tests and validations scheduled with Barzan Holdings and the Ministry of Defense, ensuring all requirements were met and the solution was fully operational.
Let’s innovate together
Talk to Ibtechar about your next innovation project — and we’ll guide you through each stage from the drawing board to project implementation.
