Infrastructure Security: A New System for Capturing Unauthorized Drones

Infrastructure Security: A New System for Capturing Unauthorized Drones

• November 3rd, 2026

Drones are increasingly used for inspection and environmental monitoring, but their unauthorised presence near airports, energy facilities or other critical infrastructure can disrupt operations and pose safety risks. SUPSI, RR Engineering and Virginia Tech are working together to develop a system to intercept and recover them without causing damage. The solutions are being tested at the Swiss Drone Competence Center in Lodrino.

How can an unauthorized drone be intercepted without causing it to crash or scatter debris?

This is the challenge at the heart of a project involving the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology (MEMTi) and the Institute of Systems and Electronics Applied (ISEA) of SUPSI, in collaboration with RR Engineering and Virginia Tech.

The proposed solution consists of deploying a drone equipped with a net capable of intercepting the target aircraft without damaging it, ensuring its safe recovery on the ground. This approach minimizes risks to people and nearby infrastructure while preserving the integrity of the intercepted drone, allowing detailed inspections of both the aircraft and its payload.

The project brings together expertise in mechanical engineering, electronics, and sensor technologies.

"We are able to manage the entire development cycle of a component, from mechanical design and simulations through to laboratory testing, ensuring its reliability before integration into drones," explains Davide Valtorta, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory at MEMTi.

Meanwhile, Prof. Daniele Allegri, Director of ISEA, highlights the institute's role in supporting companies developing new drone technologies through the design of specialized sensors and electronic components to be integrated into next-generation products.

The Swiss Drone Competence Center also plays a key role by providing a unique environment where developed solutions can be progressively tested in controlled real-world scenarios, bringing research closer to future operational applications.

"This facility allows us to move beyond the laboratory environment and validate our solutions step by step, gradually increasing the complexity of the tests until we reach realistic operational scenarios," says Samuel Poretti, Head of the RF Electronics, Telecommunications and Imaging Systems scientific area at ISEA.

The initiative represents a concrete example of collaboration between academia and industry at both local and international levels, contributing to the development of advanced technologies for airspace security.