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Recent events have sparked widespread discussion about the mounting challenges confronting traditional air traffic control systems. Aging technology and an insufficient pool of trained workers are among the top concerns at present. But these issues may prove to be only the tip of the iceberg as unmanned aerial vehicles compete for more airspace in the future. These vehicles are a threat not only to low-flying aircraft, but also to other drones. Better management of this low-altitude airspace will be crucial in the years ahead, and the sooner a solution is developed, the better off we will all be.

But there is a significant hurdle standing in the way of tracking small aerial vehicles traveling at low altitudes. The radar units traditionally used by air traffic control systems cannot effectively detect aircraft below about 400 feet above ground level. This is currently a significant issue, especially in heavily populated areas with a lot of drone traffic. Without an appropriate solution, the problem is likely to soon become completely unmanageable.

One possible answer to this growing challenge comes from researchers at Brigham Young University, who have developed an innovative drone air traffic control system using a network of small, low-cost radars. This system, designed to monitor and track drones in low-altitude airspace, could prove instrumental in preventing collisions and ensuring safer skies.

Unlike traditional large-scale radars, which can cost millions of dollars and struggle to detect low-flying objects, the team’s system consists of a network of affordable, ground-based radar units that work collaboratively. These smaller radars, when strategically placed and networked together, can provide a dynamic, real-time view of air traffic over a large geographical region.

Each radar unit scans the sky, identifying moving objects and converting their locations to a global coordinate system. Multiple radar units work in tandem to create a comprehensive, continuously updated map of all drones and other aircraft in the monitored airspace.

Maintaining a large network of radar units could be tricky, but the researchers did account for that. The system has the ability to recalibrate itself in real time. If a radar unit is bumped or displaced — whether by weather, physical impact, or another disturbance — the system can adjust within ten seconds to ensure continued accuracy. This feature relies on an algorithm that continuously fine-tunes the radar calibration to prevent tracking errors.

The radar system was designed to be adaptable and scalable. It can even be mounted on existing infrastructure, such as light posts and cell towers, to expand coverage. This flexibility makes it a cost-effective solution for cities and organizations looking to improve drone tracking without massive infrastructure investments.

The Federal Aviation Administration estimated that commercial drone usage would triple between 2019 and 2023, but actual growth has surpassed those expectations. Furthermore, large companies like Amazon and Walmart are integrating drones into their delivery operations, raising concerns about how to safely manage their flight paths without interfering with other air traffic. Given this recent growth, the development of the team’s system is very timely. While further testing and development are still needed, early findings suggest that an affordable, scalable solution for drone air traffic control may be on the horizon.