Roark Aerospace Unveils Aero-Ark, Drone Detection-as-a-Service with bespoke technologies.

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

Roark Aerospace recently announced their new “Aero-Ark” drone detection-as-a-service product, a fully self-contained, AI-powered mobile unit that uses a bespoke forward scatter detection and packet sniffing technologies to monitor drone incursions and provide live tracking and identifier information in real-time. Designed with modularity in mind, it can either operate on its own or as a part of a different drone detection platform.

Forward scatter analysis involves detecting changes in the radio waves between the on-board receiver and multiple LEO/MEO satellites. VHF,UHF ,L-Band and GNSS protocols are used to establish continuous, fail-proof coverage. The on-board FPGA can run changes in incoming radio waves through AI algorithms to identify and track drone incursions. Roark touts the increased range of the Aero-Ark forward scatter analysis systems compared to traditional channel scanning methodologies.

Packet Sniffing involves the continuous scanning of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels to detect and decrypt broadcast packets made by drones. The Aero-Ark can detect and decrypt 99.8% of commercially available drone signals over both enhanced wifi and Occusync. The information contained in these packets allows the system to identify and track drones within a 3-5 mile radius. The system also features an omni-directional antenna which provides a 360 degree scanning methodology from a single unit.

The Aero-Ark features LTE, SATCOM, PoE and WiFi connectivity, allowing for increased  interoperability of data, including converting broadcast packets into formats such as ASTERIX.  For authorized clients, the Aero-Ark can also deploy counter UAS measures on a manual or automated basis.

 While the Aero-Ark is available for sale, it is also being offered as a service in two different ways. One is Rapid Deployment Units, which can install the system on short notice for a fixed amount of time or on a rolling basis to ensure flexibility. The second is the Aero-Ark as a service, with units installed in 70 cities worldwide to allow for easy detection for clients within the coverage area (internally nicknamed the “Iron Drone”), with future plans for worldwide deployment.

More information on Roark Aerospace is available here.

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Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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