Counter-UAS system over Boise State’s stadium. (Courtesy of Black Sage Technologies.)
Defense technology company Black Sage implemented its counter-UAS detection and identification system for illegal drone activity at NCAA football games in Boise, Idaho this past season.
A press release from Black Sage shows a photo of the system being used at Albertsons Stadium, the outdoor venue on the campus of Boise State University. Federal law prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles within a three-mile radius of a sporting venue from one hour prior to an event until one hour after it. The Temporary Flight Restriction law applies to both professional and NCAA sporting events.
“Stadium operators and law enforcement have few options to enforce the restrictions and are now turning to Black Sage to provide layered Counter-UAS systems to fill the security gap,” according to Black Sage’s press release. The company aided local law enforcement, stadium security, as well as other agencies to ensure maximum safety at college football games in Boise this past season.
Back Sage’s artificial intelligence counter-UAS system is capable of detecting a drone before it is even airborne. RF jammers are used to disable the radio frequency of the drone and lasers can be deployed to “deny imagery capture of sensitive sites.” The system’s instant replay function stores forensics data of the drone activity to ensure help ensure successful prosecution of the operator.
Black Sage is a privately-owned company founded in Boise, Idaho in 2014. The counter-UAS system is installed at the top of stadiums to monitor the sky for illegal drones that may be approaching.
SportTechie Takeaway
Drone incidents at sporting events have begun to increase over the past couple years as the devices have grown in popularity. A drone crashed into the stands at Petco Park in 2017 during a San Diego Padres game. Drones flying near practices held by the Atlanta Falcons before Super Bowl LI and the Honduras men’s national soccer team before a World Cup playoff have raised concerns of opposing teams using them to spy and seek a competitive advantage. In January, a drone caused an 11-minute delay during an English soccer match.
