You can close the notification and view the full AeroScope product page, which still has an order form for DJI dealers at the bottom. The China-based DJI hasn’t formally announced the discontinuation of the product, and it’s not yet clear if existing AeroScope devices will lose functionality or if the platform will be gone forever. According to UAV Hiverumors indicate that DJI is working on a second version of the receiver, however DJI did not immediately respond to the edgeRequest for more information.
Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge
DJI describes its AeroScope technology as a “comprehensive drone detection platform” that can identify and track drones in real time using receiver signals emitted by newer DJI drones. This signal provides AeroScope users with information such as flight status, route, and pilot location from drones up to about 30 miles away.
While the product was originally intended to be used by law enforcement or other government agencies to monitor drones flying in potentially dangerous areas (such as around an airport runway) and track their pilots, the technology became a reason. of concern in the midst of war. between Russia and Ukraine.
Brendan Schulman, Former DJI Vice President of Policy, says on Twitter that there are “probably two reasons” behind DJI’s decision to discontinue AeroScope. “There is no point in continuing to support a feature that was created to help US security interests when US security agencies are constantly targeting it,” Schulman writes, citing the Remote ID implementation. of the Federal Aviation Administration.
This is the next standard that the FAA, law enforcement, and other agencies will use to detect and track “most drones operating in US airspace,” providing them with information about identity, location, altitude, takeoff location, control station location and more of the drone.
Starting September 16, 2023, most drone operators in the US will only be able to fly aircraft with built-in remote transmit capabilities or an upgraded remote ID transmit module, essentially what DJI has already been doing. with their new drones and AeroScope. The only time drone operators can use a device that does not emit remote identification signals is if they are flying in identified areas recognized by the FAA.
Just days before the apparent AeroScope outage came to light, a report of cabling revealed Researchers have created a tool that receives signals from DJI drones through more affordable third-party devices, allowing them to detect the GPS locations of the device and its pilot without the need for an AeroScope system. The engineers working on the project have cabling They have only tested the tool with drones at a distance of 15 to 25 feet, but believe they can track drones even further with further testing.
