AI system could locate pilots of intrusive drones

When an unauthorized drone is being flown in a restricted airspace, the authorities understandably want to locate its operator. A new AI-based system may allow them to do so, succeeding where other technologies fail. First of all, it is possible to determine the approximate location of a drone's pilot, using multiple widely-spaced sensors to triangulate the originating point of its radio control signal. Those sensors do already have to be in place, however, plus they may not be able to pick up the radio signal if it's obstructed by other wireless signals (such as those from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) that are present in the area. Seeking a better alternative, researchers from Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a system in which cameras optically track the drone's flight path in three-dimensional space.