What the CCPDrone Act Means for DeFli

In the United States we recently saw the CCP Drones Act pass through the HoR (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2864). This proposed law change would, if passed, represent an enormous opportunity for DeFli Networks and our “Drone Detection as a Service” Network.

The CCP Drones Act effectively seeks to prohibit the ability for anybody to operate DJI (and other CCP Linked manufacturers) drones and equipment within the United States.

At present, over 90% of drone detection performed in the United States, Europe & UK is facilitated by DJI Aeroscope devices and/or devices built around their architecture. This technology performs scanning of the enhanced WiFi and Occusync (2.4GHz and 5.8GHz) channels for the data packets emitted by DJI drones. With DJI being the pre-eminent manufacturer and supplier of drones globally, it can be argued that the use of DJI Aeroscope’s provides fairly broad coverage for drone detection as almost all current drone incursions are made by DJI drones. For reference a standard omni-directional Aeroscope setup costs around $80,000.

If/when the CCP Drones Act is written in to law we expect the following to happen:

1. By default the use of the DJI Aeroscope would be prohibited.

2. DJI will stop providing support and updates to the DJI Aeroscope and may also engage in push software changes that disrupt the detection ability.

3. DJI will change their encryption protocols to prevent data packets from being read.

4. DJI will advise drone operators to fly on non-rf models, note they have previously done this by in-building something called “government mode”.

What this means:

Firstly, 90%+ of all drone detection equipment currently used in the United States (and beyond) will become obsolete and will need replacing.

Secondly, drone detection will need to include radar or optical based techniques so as to ensure that DJI drones operating on “government mode” are identified.

Why DeFli Network is the solution to these issues:

Drone detection as a service has a zero cap-ex meaning all current deployers of DJI Aeroscope based detection can seamlessly swap in a new detection methodology without any cap-ex.

DeFli uses forward scatter analysis and passive radar to identify drones operating on non-rf or “dark” functions.

The future of drone manufacturing

An all out ban on DJI drones would pave the way for American manufacturer’s to grow market share and / or start producing drones. DeFli feel that a new wave of manufacturing provides an exceptional opportunity for a mandate to incorporate ADS-B out technology in to new drone designs, and subsequently utilize our dense network of ADS-B receivers that negate LoS issues.