Bird-mimicking drone passes detection test

Bird-mimicking drone passes detection test

By Jason Kaneshiro Operational Business Center Public Affairs

Radar detects a bird in flight and audio sensors hear an innocuous flapping noise.

Is it a bird? Is it a drone? Seconds tic by. Is it too late?

A drone manufacturer demonstrated an unmanned aerial system, or UAS, that mimics the mechanical motion of a bird in flight at the most-recent "Game of Drones" event Sept. 14-18.

Geourg Kivijian, chief executive officer and co-founder of Ornadyne, said his company is the only U.S.-based manufacturer that designs and builds mechanical "birds" for reconnaissance and stealth.

"We learned during 'Game of Drones' that sensors deployed by the other companies here could not establish our drone using their detection equipment," Kivijian said. "It registered as a bird, which is exactly what we wanted."

The O1 ornithopter drone mimics the flight mechanics of a bird by flapping semi-rigid wings to stay airborne rather than using propellors like most traditional small UASs.

As counter UAS systems continuously improve, drones must get better at concealing themselves from countermeasures, Kivijian said

Armen Arakelyan, chief technology officer and co-founder of the company, said it was the first time they could confirm and test the ability of their drone to conceal itself from detection systems controlled by other companies.

"It looks like a bird, it moves similar to a bird, and humans and counter UAS systems can misclassify it as a bird," Arakelyan said. "It's also a lot quitter because we replaced propellors with flapping wings."

Arakelyan said the "Game of Drones" event provided unique opportunities to interact with warfighters to get their input on requirements and functionality and to workshop with other vendors on technology, engineering and execution.

While this was their first appearance at the event, the company is already looking forward to future engagements.

"We're already excited to be at the next 'Game of Drones,'" Arakelyan said.

Innovative and adaptive warfare depends on reliable tests, and "Game of Drones" is being used to determine how testing should work in the new paradigm of drone warfare.

The DCMA Blue List team developed and sponsored the event with the Air Force 412th Test Wing's Experimental Test Force, and the Griffiss Institute, a not-for-profit organization which serves as an intermediary to federal service laboratories and American industry.