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Sky Fence - A Drone-Proof Shield Created Over Prison
A British prison has created a "shield" to prevent drones from flying over exercise yards and dropping contraband. As far as I know, this is a first.
(Sky Fence over Les Nicolles prison on Guernsey)
The device creates a 2,000ft (600m) shield around and above a prison that will detect and deflect the remote-controlled devices.It uses a series of "disruptors", which are sensors to jam the drone's computer, and block its frequency and control protocols. The operator's screen will go black and the drone will be bounced back to where it came from.
The new system, called Sky Fence, is being introduced at Les Nicolles prison on Guernsey, where around 20 "disruptors" will be installed on the perimeter and inside.
This is not the first time the idea has been used in science fiction. Of course, the idea of a force shield has been used many times.
However, the idea of a field that overlays a prison or large installation is a bit different. I'm reminded of this instance from The Man in the Maze, a 1969 novel by Robert Silverberg. An ancient alien city lay apparently wide open, on a vast plain. But, appearances can be deceiving:
Rawlins said, “This is going to sound naive, I know, Charles. But why don’t we just come down from here and land the scout-plane in the middle of that central plaza?”“Let me show you,” said Boardman.
He spoke a command. A robot drone probe detached itself from the belly of the plane and streaked toward the city. Board-man and Rawlins followed the flight of the blunt gray metal projectile until it was only a few score meters above the tops of the buildings. Through its faceted eye they had a sharp view of the city, revealing the intricate texture of much of the stonework. Suddenly the drone probe vanished. There was a burst of incandescence, a puff of greenish smoke—and then nothing at all.
Boardman nodded. “Nothing’s changed. There’s still a protective field over the whole thing. It volatilizes anything that tries to get through.”
(Read more about the protective field)
Via Telegraph.
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