Question 1

What is Remote ID and why does drone detection rely on it?

Accepted Answer

Remote ID is a European requirement that has applied to almost all drones since 1 January 2024. During flight, the drone broadcasts its serial number, position, altitude, speed and the position of the pilot over Bluetooth or WiFi. Anyone with a suitable receiver can pick up that data. The AEROTECT DRID is such a receiver, but with a range of kilometres instead of a few hundred metres, and with support for all four transports the standard allows.

Question 2

What is the range of the DRID?

Accepted Answer

With omnidirectional antennas, 7.5 kilometres in built-up areas and 15 kilometres in open terrain. Those figures were measured with line of sight, from an elevated mounting position and with a reference aircraft broadcasting at standard transmit power. In practice it runs higher or lower. Directional antennas have reached more than double, within a limited beam width instead of all round. Rain, buildings, a low mounting position and an aircraft that transmits weakly bring it down. So we give a substantiated figure per location.

Question 3

Does the DRID also see drones without Remote ID?

Accepted Answer

No. A drone that broadcasts nothing, such as a home-built drone or one with Remote ID switched off, is not detected. At events it is almost always regular consumer drones that do broadcast. For situations with a heightened threat level, customers combine the DRID with radar or RF scanners. We prefer to say this beforehand rather than have you find out on the day.

Question 4

Is my organisation allowed to detect drones?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Remote ID is a publicly broadcast signal that is specifically intended to be received by third parties. Receiving and displaying it is permitted. What private parties may not do is jam, take over or bring down a drone. That is reserved for authorised government agencies. The DRID only receives. You use the picture to direct security or police to the pilot.

Question 5

What about the privacy of the pilot?

Accepted Answer

A Remote ID message contains the drone's serial number, the position of the drone and the position of the pilot, and in Europe also the operator's registration number. That registration number may be traceable to a person and is therefore personal data. In the platform you decide how long observations are kept and who has access. We recommend a retention period that matches the debrief of the event and record this in the data processing agreement.

Question 6

How long does it take to set up the DRID?

Accepted Answer

One unit is up on a mast or roof within an hour, including testing. For an event we prefer to install a day in advance so the picture is live when the gates open. With self-operated rental you receive the units with mounting hardware and a short instruction. The zones are then already configured for you in the platform.

Question 7

How many units do I need?

Accepted Answer

For a festival site, one DRID in a central, elevated position is often enough, with a second unit as backup or for the campsite. A city centre needs two to four units, a forty-kilometre route six to ten. The exact number follows from the site plan, the surrounding buildings and the places where you can use a mast or roof. We discuss this during the intake.

Question 8

What does the DRID need in terms of power and network?

Accepted Answer

One network cable with Power over Ethernet (PoE). It supplies both the power and the data connection. If there is no wired network at the desired location, you use the optional 4G module. Power then still runs over PoE from a PoE injector or a switch.

Question 9

What does the optional ADS-B module do?

Accepted Answer

ADS-B is the transponder signal of aircraft carrying a transponder: aeroplanes, helicopters, air ambulances and the larger unmanned aircraft. With the module you see those aircraft on the same map as the drones. That is relevant near airports, at events with a temporary restricted area and anywhere a helicopter landing is possible.

Question 10

Should I rent or buy?

Accepted Answer

For an event lasting a few days to a few months, renting is the logical answer, with or without installation by AEROTECT. If you want to monitor a site all year round, purchase with a platform subscription is more economical. If in doubt, select "not sure yet" in the quote form and we will call you to go through the options.

Question 11

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

The price depends on the number of units, the duration and whether we handle the installation. That is why we do not list fixed amounts on the site. After a half-hour intake you receive a proposal with a fixed price within two working days, without surprises afterwards.

Question 12

Can the platform integrate with our control room?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The API is SAPIENT compliant, the standard for integrating sensors into counter-UAS and control room architectures. That lets the DRID run as a sensor inside a system you already use, without a custom translation layer. If your supplier does not work with SAPIENT, you retrieve observations and alerts over REST or webhooks. Alerts can also go by email, SMS or push to specific people.

Question 13

Is the AEROTECT API SAPIENT compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SAPIENT is the open standard for autonomous sensor systems, originally developed for defence and now widely used in counter-UAS deployments. It describes how a sensor reports its detections, status and configuration to a fusion node. Because the AEROTECT API follows that message structure, an integrator can add the DRID to an existing setup with radar, camera or RF sensors without building a bespoke interface. Ask us for the interface description if your supplier wants to prepare the integration.

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