As law enforcement continues responding to illegal drone flights near major sporting events, new technology could provide another tool to help detect and track drones around stadiums.
Ericsson and AT&T demonstrated a new 5G network sensing system on Friday that can detect and monitor drones approaching entertainment venues such as Dallas Stadium.
“We’re casting a net out there. We are using the technology that your cellphones use today to detect objects that are within our network in a wider area,” a company representative said during the demonstration.
During the test, the technology detected a drone approaching Dallas Stadium and tracked its movement using the wireless network.
The White House FIFA World Cup Task Force told NBC 5 Investigates there have been nearly 1,500 drone detections nationwide and more than 700 mitigations during the tournament.
The FBI’s drone incursion teams have been working to detect and seize drones flying illegally near World Cup venues.
In North Texas, the FBI Dallas says agents have seized 53 drones during the eight matches played at Dallas Stadium so far. Most of those cases resulted in citations.
Federal authorities also charged two men after they allegedly flew unregistered drones inside the temporary flight restriction around Dallas Stadium.
Ericsson and AT&T said they demonstrated the technology for dozens of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
“It’s not so much that we can tell them, but that they can tell us how it can be used, how it could be used in parallel with their existing systems to keep people safe,” a company representative said.
Arlington police said the department already has drone detection capabilities during major events in the city’s entertainment district. Officers can identify the origin of drone signals and locate pilots flying illegally.
The department said it is also working to expand its drone mitigation capabilities.
According to Arlington police, the number of drone seizures has increased from year to year. Officials said they have not found dangerous substances or items attached to any of the seized drones, and that most violations have involved recreational drone operators.
Police also said they were not previously aware of the Ericsson and AT&T technology but that the department’s aviation unit routinely evaluates new technology that could assist future operations.