Image source: Motherboard

Ben Sullivan published an article yesterday on Motherboard describing products offered by Russian company Coptersafe that jailbreak DJI drones and enable the purchasers to thwart the built-in no-fly zones.

Coptersafe claims they did it out of necessity when their aerial video business could not operate due to the built-in restrictions even though they had permission from local authorities.

It is not surprising that such techniques have been developed. As the government struggles to regulate the burgeoning drone industry, I predict an increasing emphasis on the development of drone detection systems and anti-drone technologies. Laws, along with effective enforcement, will help to reduce airspace violations committed by drone hobbyists. The big ‘guns,’ however, will be needed for more nefarious actors.

As Sullivan points out in his article, the cat-and-mouse game has begun. The cycle of developing drone-safety measures and countermeasures will not abate anytime soon.