Drone Spin Code: Superscatterer Stickers for Radar Recognition of Dronescore
DroneSpinCode · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-05-01–2027-10-31
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call ERC-2025-POC · scheme HORIZON-ERC-POC · topic ERC-2025-POC. CORDIS record →
Objective
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are poised to revolutionize urban transportation. This implies frequent UAV flights in densely populated areas, offering substantial economic advantages by minimizing ground traffic, automating delivery processes, and enhancing logistic efficiency. The global drone delivery market is projected to reach billions, demonstrating a 49% CAGR from 2022 to 2030. However, this innovation also introduces significant security challenges as the risk of accidents becomes a safety concern. Therefore, it is crucial to develop advanced monitoring methods to ensure the safe integration of UAVs into the airspace. Current drone security measures, like real-time ID reporting, geofencing, and altitude/distance control, rely on user compliance and continuous high-speed data connectivity. While similar safety mechanisms in autonomous vehicles utilize various sensors and vehicle-to-vehicle communication, these are unsuitable for small drones due to their cost, weight, and energy demands. Therefore, developing new external monitoring tools for UAVs is essential to ensure the safety and viability of widespread drone deployment.We propose to turn hard-to-track UAVs into clear radar targets by attaching AI-designed superscattering stickers to plastic rotor blades. These rotating metasurfaces weigh less than one gram and cost under one cent, preserve aerodynamics, and provide a unique passive drone ID by interfacing with radar that needs only a software update to add a convolutional neural network classifier.Owing to a dramatic radar cross-section enhancement, even small drones become visible and classifiable at > 10 km distances using low-cost, moderate-power systems that comply with regulations. This range is crucial for integrating monitoring systems with cellular infrastructure and for covering critical sites such as airports. Our innovation is set to transform drone surveillance and tracking, ensuring safety and reliability in dense urban airspace.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY | IL | coordinator | €150,000 |
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