Paralyzing drones via narrow-band remote EMI injection

Abstract

Recently, drones have emerged as game-changers in modern warfare, sparking a significant surge in interest in both offensive drones and anti-drone technologies. drone neutralization technology, in particular, plays a pivotal role in enhancing societal safety and security. However, existing neutralization techniques such as GPS jamming, spoofing, EMP, and ultrasonic attacks have limitations, with countermeasures already developed and the potential for collateral damage to surrounding devices. In this dissertation, we introduce a novel drone neutralization technology: narrow-band EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) injection. This method leverages the vulnerability of multi-copter control systems to EMI and the reliance of drones on the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for their attitude control. Our intuition is that the distortion of communication between the IMU and the control unit leads to immediate drone neutralization. Furthermore, the discovery of a specific vulnerable frequency dependency on a single control board substantiates this study, minimizing secondary damage and proving its effectiveness in circumventing conventional recovery methods. Additionally, this countermeasure technology necessitates shielding for all multi-copters, significantly undermining their price competitiveness.