India Develops Acoustic Anti-Drone Technology That Can Disable Drones Mid-Air

India is working on a new way to deal with unauthorized drones — using sound instead of bullets, lasers or traditional radio jammers.

Scientists at the CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) in Chandigarh have developed an acoustic-based anti-drone system designed to disrupt a drone’s flight and disable it in mid-air. The technology was developed with support from IHUB-NTIHAC at IIT Kanpur.

How the Acoustic Anti-Drone System Works

The technology targets one of the most important components inside a drone: its MEMS gyroscope.

A MEMS gyroscope helps the flight controller understand whether the drone is rotating, tilting or staying stable. CSIO’s system uses specialized transducers to direct high-intensity sound toward the drone.

When the sound reaches frequencies that interact with the sensor, the gyroscope can start vibrating abnormally. This can generate incorrect readings for the flight controller.

The drone then tries to compensate for movements that are not actually happening, potentially causing it to wobble, lose stability, drift or fall.

Why This Is Different From a Traditional Drone Jammer

Most conventional anti-drone systems rely on radar, radio-frequency jamming or other electronic countermeasures.

CSIO’s approach is different because it targets the drone’s internal balance mechanism rather than its communication link.

That could make the technology useful against autonomous drones that do not depend on a conventional remote-control connection.

Where Could This Technology Be Used?

The system could potentially provide an additional layer of protection around high-security installations, sensitive locations and restricted airspace.

India has also been dealing with increasing concerns around the use of small drones for surveillance, smuggling and other security threats. Acoustic systems could complement existing radar and electronic counter-drone technologies rather than completely replace them.

However, the technology is not without limitations. Acoustic counter-drone systems are generally more suitable for shorter ranges, and environmental conditions can affect how sound propagates.

CSIO Is Looking Toward Commercialisation

CSIO is reportedly looking for industrial partners to help scale and commercialise the technology.

If successfully developed for operational use, the system could give India another option for dealing with low-cost drones without relying exclusively on conventional electronic jamming or physical interception.

Official Source

For information about the organisation and its research activities, visit the official CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) website. CSIO is part of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

Source: Times of India, Economic Times, CSIR-CSIO