Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often referred to as drones, have been experiencing healthy growth around the world. The rapid increase in the availability and sophistication of UAS, represents a significant challenge, as their capabilities progress faster than the ability to assess and mitigate the threat posed by nefarious small UAS.
The positive uses of UAS have the potential to save lives, increase safety and efficiency, and enable more effective science and engineering research. However, UAS are subject to threats stemming from increasing reliance on computer and communication technologies, which place public safety, national security, and individual privacy at risk. To promote safe, secure and privacy-respecting UAS operations, there is an urgent need for innovative technologies for detecting, tracking, identifying and mitigating UAS. A Counter-UAS (C-UAS) system is defined as a system or device capable of lawfully and safely disabling, disrupting, or seizing control of an unmanned aircraft system.
