Ukrainian drone enthusiasts sign up to repel Russian forces

[Uncle Joe]

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“Kyiv needs you and your drone at this moment of fury!” read a Facebook post late last week from the Ukrainian military, calling for citizens to donate hobby drones and to volunteer as experienced pilots to operate them.

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One entrepreneur who runs a retail store selling consumer drones in the capital said its entire stock of some 300 drones made by Chinese company DJI has been dispersed for the cause. Others are working to get more drones across the border from friends and colleagues in Poland and elsewhere in Europe.

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Unlike the much larger Turkish-built combat drones that Ukraine has in its arsenal, off-the-shelf consumer drones aren’t much use as weapons — but they can be powerful reconnaissance tools. Civilians have been using the aerial cameras to track Russian convoys and then relay the images and GPS coordinates to Ukrainian troops. Some of the machines have night vision and heat sensors.

But there's a downside: DJI, the leading provider of consumer drones in Ukraine and around the world, provides a tool that can easily pinpoint the location of an inexperienced drone operator, and no one really knows what the Chinese firm or its customers might do with that data. That makes some volunteers uneasy. DJI declined to discuss specifics about how it has responded to the war.

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https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/ukrainian-drone-enthusiasts-sign-repel-russian-forces-83256532

[Wingus Dingus]

1. I'm sure someone can tell them how to disable the location feature.

If they're as widespread as they are, someone's done this successfully.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Yes, here you go

(snip)

DJI spokesperson Adam Lisberg said wartime uses were “never anticipated” when the company created AeroScope to give policing and aviation authorities — including clients in both Russia and Ukraine — a window into detecting drones flying in their immediate airspace. He said some users in Ukraine have reported technical problems but DJI has not disabled the tool or given preferential access.

In the meantime, Ukrainian drone experts said they've been doing whatever they can to teach operators how to protect their whereabouts.

"There are a number of tricks that allow you to increase the level of security when using them,” Sushko said.

Sushko said many in the industry are now trying to get more small drones — including DJI alternatives — transported into Ukraine from neighboring European countries. They can also be used to assist search-and-rescue operations.

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https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/ukrainian-drone-enthusiasts-sign-repel-russian-forces-83256532

[sanatanadharma]

3. Don't miss this seasons best movie, coming soon "Red Dusk"

"The invaders thought all was going as planned and they had the power, until the 'Defense Regiment-Opposing National Enemies' (DRONE) began operation Sunflower."

DRONE marched to victory to the beat of the popular national-folk song, "We're putin' it to you".