The Canadian military has announced plans to transform a section of downtown Ottawa into a testing ground for drone detection during the final week of November. Scheduled for November 24-28, the Department of National Defence (DND) will conduct test flights of small drones, some weighing less than two kilograms, in the Kent and Sparks streets vicinity. A selected group of 20 tech companies will have the opportunity to showcase their drone-detection technology in this controlled urban setting, with various military branches overseeing the trials.
The primary objective of the tests is to evaluate the effectiveness of the companies’ drone-detection prototypes in an urban environment and to develop tools that can enhance crowd safety at outdoor events, as per the DND. Interested parties were invited to devise technology capable of countering a range of threats, including drone swarms, high-speed drones maneuvering around buildings at speeds of up to 200 km/h, and tethered unmanned aerial vehicles. The proposed prototypes should have the capacity to safeguard a four-block radius or protect a visiting dignitary at an open-air gathering.
To incentivize innovation, the department has allocated $1.75 million in prizes for promising technology solutions. Emphasizing the importance of safety, the DND assured that no harmful technology would be tested during this phase, with one of the trials scheduled to take place at night.
Overall, the initiative aims to harness advancements in drone-detection technology to bolster security measures and protect public gatherings, offering a platform for tech companies to showcase their capabilities in tackling evolving security challenges.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/anti-drone-technology-test-ottawa-downtown-9.6983398)