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UAV technology provides us with the possibility of changing the world-from the historical transition of e-commerce to faster emergency response. But this technology also has its dark side. It can be used to monitor, threaten critical infrastructure, or attack people and public places. "The Secretary of Homeland Security Coste Jan Nielsen wrote in the Washington Post.

Venezuelan President Maduro encountered a "drone attack" when attending an open-air event on the 4th. The suspect was allegedly manipulating two drones carrying explosives to attempt an assassination. While the outside world is paying attention to the master behind the scenes, the pros and cons of drones have once again become the focus of public opinion.

Some reports pointed out that if the "assassination" is true, this will be the first drone attack on a head of state, and it may also be a terrible harbinger of the future. There are also security experts worried that drone threats may appear frequently in the future, and armed organizations may even use drones to launch biochemical attacks.

In recent years, due to factors such as technological progress, increased supply, and lower prices, the civilian drone market has flourished. This new electronic product that combines practicality and leisure is gradually integrated into the daily work and life of the people. Small size, light weight, and easy-to-carry drones can not only complete tasks that are difficult for humans, but also record life scenes and other entertainment functions.

A "quadcopter" is a relatively common drone, sometimes called a "quadrotor." This type of drone can be operated remotely and can fly for more than 20 minutes with a single charge. It is cheap and easy to buy. However, the "elves" have limited payloads and can easily turn into deadly weapons, even threatening social security.

Extremist organizations have seized the opportunity of technological advancement to carry out tactical innovation. According to reports, extremist organizations such as the Islamic State have used drones to launch attacks, including throwing grenades and hitting infrastructure. With the help of new technologies, extremist organizations can use low-cost tools to cause fatal damage to powerful enemies. Worryingly, the threat of drones is not limited to the Middle East battlefield.

In January 2015, an out-of-control drone crashed on the lawn of the White House, raising concerns about the safety of the US President. Shortly thereafter, a drone carrying radioactive materials flew into the Japanese Prime Minister's residence. It was found that a man protested against Japan's nuclear policy. In April of this year, Saudi security forces shot down a drone near the palace, and reports pointed to a "coup attack."

There is a view that drone attacks launched by non-state actors have limited impact. Stratfor Security Consulting analyst Scott Stewart pointed out that military drones are extremely difficult to obtain, and homemade bombs are usually much less lethal.

Some experts still worry that the psychological impact of a successful small-scale attack may be far greater than the actual damage, thereby achieving the attacker's goal of spreading terrorism. Extremist organizations such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda have achieved this goal. Colin Clark, an analyst at the Rand Corporation, a policy think tank, pointed out that this is an important aspect of terrorism—the psychological aspect. Even if it does not cause a large number of casualties, an attack can still trigger fear.

How to deal with the rising threat of drones

The U.S. security department has issued a warning: The current law is not sufficient to deal with drone threats, and operators can use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to launch conventional attacks and cyber attacks. In June of this year, several officials of the Ministry of National Security testified before Congress: “This is a very serious and imminent threat. We are not yet ready to deal with it.” Because the federal law predates the development of drone technology. Promulgated, so the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Justice "have nothing to do with the issue of managing drones."

Dan Gedinger, deputy director of the Center for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Research (CSD) at Bard College in the United States, pointed out that many anti-UAV systems, such as "jammers" designed to cut off the operator’s contact with drones, are difficult to operate in non-combat areas. Deployment, because this type of technology may interfere with commercial flights and law enforcement operations. "There are many challenges in deploying these measures domestically," Gedinger said. Analysis also pointed out that some UAVs are small in size and low in flight altitude, making it difficult for radar to detect and identify. In addition, as the popularity of drones continues to rise, it is difficult to distinguish criminals from large wholesale hobbyists.

According to reports, the US Department of Security has called on Congress to amend relevant laws to give the US federal government more authority to respond to drone threats. Germany passed the "Regulations Regarding the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" last year, which imposed strict regulations on drone users and other aspects. France also issued a decree on drone management for the first time in 2012, and subsequently revised and supplemented relevant regulations to strictly regulate the use of drones. But Greenpeace said last month that it had manipulated a drone into a nuclear power plant in France to alert the public to potential safety hazards in nuclear power.

Although many companies are cooperating with government departments to formulate relevant regulations, can the relevant regulations take effect in a timely manner? Can different departments at all levels coordinate and manage the "black fly"? Are management tools and technologies sufficiently advanced?

Clark of the RAND Corporation pointed out that governments of all countries are striving to keep up with the rapid development of commercial drones, "the actual situation far exceeds the law, policy and authority." "Atlantic Monthly" pointed out that the Venezuelan "assassination" shows that the speed of technological development has exceeded the government's ability to respond.

For this difficult situation brought about by drones, the problems caused by technology should also be solved by technology. As a leading company in the UAV counter-control industry, topsignaljammer has been focusing on the research of anti-UAV technology for a long time. Government departments and some important institutions provide solutions to respond to drone attacks and customized low-altitude support services drone jammer.