Ottawa Hosts Urgent Drone-Detection Tech Tests with $1.75M Prize

UPDATE: Ottawa is buzzing with activity as the Department of National Defense (DND) tests advanced drone-detection technology in the heart of the city from November 24 to 28, 2023. This unprecedented event has drawn attention from international tech companies, offering a unique platform for local innovators to showcase their capabilities.

Twenty companies, including Ottawa-based Rival Lab and Tungsten Collaborative, are competing for a share of $1.75 million in prize money for promising technologies. “There’s no price tag on this kind of opportunity,” said Moira Barnes, a mechanical engineer from Rival Lab, emphasizing the rare chance to operate in an urban environment where regulations typically restrict such testing.

This first-of-its-kind urban sandbox allows companies to test their systems against the challenges of city landscapes, where drones can easily hide behind buildings and their sounds may be muffled. “It’s much harder to detect drones in a city,” explained Bill Dicke, president of Tungsten Collaborative, underscoring the significance of this testing ground compared to the usual sparsely populated areas like Suffield, Alberta.

The stakes are high as security threats from drones continue to rise. Deepak Dutt, CEO of Zighra, highlighted the dual nature of drone usage — while they can be used for benign purposes like delivery, they also pose risks such as spying on critical infrastructure or smuggling contraband. “Everybody’s innovating, so are the fraudsters,” Dutt remarked, drawing parallels between drone detection and financial fraud detection.

Under real urban conditions, these tests provide invaluable insights. “It validates our assumptions about what the technology is capable of,” Dicke stated, indicating that the unpredictable urban setting offers a more rigorous testing environment. Rival Lab’s optical sensor technology, which utilizes neuromorphic imaging, is also being put to the test, although Barnes noted they faced challenges due to the complexity of the urban landscape.

“This is what Canada is about — cities, inclement weather, and significant events,” Barnes said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity regardless of the competition’s outcome. The data collected during this week will be instrumental in refining and advancing their technology.

As the tests continue, the potential implications for urban security and the future of drone technology remain substantial. The DND’s initiative not only fosters innovation but also encourages collaboration among tech firms, setting a precedent for future urban drone detection efforts.

Stay tuned for more updates as the competition unfolds and the results of these groundbreaking urban tests are revealed. The future of drone detection in cities could very well be shaped by the outcomes of this unique event.