Drone enthusiasts in Japan may find it harder to play with their devices following the launch of an anti-drone squad.©Tyler Olson/shutterstock.comTOKYO, Dec 11 – To protect the city from potentially unsafe rogue drones, the Metropolitan Police Department of Tokyo has put together a unit specifically for capturing other drones, according to Japan Today. When drones enter those vicinities, officers will first warn the drone’s operator via loudspeakers; if that fails, the drone will be taken down.
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Anti-drone drone usage isn’t unique to Japan; in France a private company developed a net-wielding device for government use after drones kept popping up near popular landmarks.
Earlier this year in April a drone landed on the roof of the Japanese prime minister’s office.
After some trial and error, police concluded that a net would allow them to easily catch drones with little worry about them falling and causing injuries on the ground. “We hope to defend the nation’s functions with the worst-case scenario in mind”.
It’s illegal to operate drones over certain areas in Japan, including airports, power plants and roads, as well as above a height of 150m (492 feet). It was carrying radioactive material. In fact, the drone takeover is now so assured that Tokyo police have unveiled plans to combat the presence of unwanted drones near buildings of importance with, you guessed it, more drones.
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Currently, drones can only be used in the United Kingdom within sight of the operator and with permission of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
