Authorities have found a true challenge with drones. With the lack of legislation and the free availability of these devices, we must add the creativity of their pilots and their intentions, which in many cases turn out to be highly questionable. We recently talked about a Japanese project that explores the possibility of using drones to hunt other drones. However, the Dutch police propose an even more radical solution: training eagles and catching them in the air.
While industry giants work to turn drones into an automated home delivery network, the personal use of these vehicles is giving authorities a real headache. The big goal is, as in most things, to find a good balance. Several countries tried to ban drones, and what they discovered (besides absolute resistance) is a serious lack of resources to enforce such bans. For now, law enforcement seems focused on maintaining certain exclusion zones around government buildings and historical monuments, which implies removing an invading drone as soon as it is detected.
A Radical Solution
The Dutch National Police's proposal took more than one by surprise: use eagles. The police have joined forces with the training company Guard From Above from The Hague, and within the next few months they will try to determine if it is viable to prepare a group of eagle drone hunters. As we can see in the video, the first tests are definitely positive. The eagle catches the drone mid-flight with a grace and precision that no drone could duplicate, then gives rise to the instinctive action of taking it to a remote corner, as if it were a real prey.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HifO-ebmE1sSafety Concerns
One of the most delicate points of this initiative is, without a doubt, the safety of the eagles. A good part of the efforts are focused in avoiding the potential damage of the rotors, although eagles have scales on their talons that protect them from bites and other aggressions. Still, the video mentions the possibility of an additional protection system. Experts' response points in the same general direction: birds can bring down drones easily, but it represents a very big risk for them. We imagine we will have more details very soon.
