Dutch Police Are Training Eagles to Capture Drones

[cigaretteman]

Is it a drone? Is it a plane? Nope, it’s a trained eagle hunting down an unmanned aerial vehicle like it’s a slow and useless animal that it wants to eat for dinner.

The Dutch National Police has decided to take a rather unusual approach to capturing rogue drones. While others have tried nets, the Dutch approach is to train a raptor to swoop up the offending aircraft like it’s prey.

The police force is said to be testing other electronic and physical solutions, but right now it’s in the middle of trial period where eagles are coached to identify and capture drones. The birds appear to drag the drones—in this case, DJI phantoms—off much like they were lunch.



It makes some sense. Eagles are damn good at intercepting other flying creatures, and the video (in Dutch, sorry) certainly proves that the ability translates well to drones. Though one does wonder what might happen if the eagle attempted to bring down a large drone, with feathers meeting big rotors a rather unpleasant thought.

Still, it’s not confirmed that the technique will actually be used in anger. We’ll have to wait and see if eagles turn out to be more a effective solution than nets in the long run.

http://gizmodo.com/dutch-police-are-training-eagles-to-capture-drones-1756339714

 

[KitingHigh]

Cool. How much does a drone catching raptor cost?

 

[thewop]

If you ever meet a dutch person, make friends with them. They're fun. If you have a Dutch friend and an Australian friend, your live will be improved.

 

[IACub]

So, using eagles to defend us against the robot uprising... Kind of a Terminator meets Tolkien. I like it. Now, where can I get an eagle?

 

[The Tradition]

Though one does wonder what might happen if the eagle attempted to bring down a large drone, with feathers meeting big rotors a rather unpleasant thought.

This is an easy problem to overcome. Just attach lasers to their frickin' heads!

 

[moral_victory]

 

[zwick99]

1. They don't need training. Birds of prey will attack drones on instinct. It is like teaching a cat to catch a mouse. I kid in my neighborhood had a toy helicopter taken out of mid air by a bird.

2. The big drones dan kill a bird including an eagle. They have propellers that can do damage. Remember julio Iglesias getting his hand cut open by a drone?

 

[Herkmeister]

It's no big deal.