SkySweep

Securing the skies of tomorrow, today — a computer-vision anti-drone detection and interception system built at a university hackathon in less than 20 hours.

Year
2026
Event
Hackathon
Result
2nd Place
My Role
Hardware Systems Architect
SkySweep Logo

The Problem

Civilian Vulnerability

  • Commercial airports lose millions from rogue drone shutdowns
  • Secure areas like nuclear plants face serious espionage risks
  • VIP privacy is constantly invaded by consumer drones

Defense Vulnerability

  • Mobile scout units and forward operating bases (FOBs) are highly vulnerable to cheap, payload-carrying drone swarms
  • Traditional countermeasures fail against small, fast, low-altitude targets

Our Solution

SkySweep is a cost-effective, rapid-response optical AI system. We built a computer-vision-based automated tracking and portable interception turret that identifies and intercepts threats in real-time using purely optical detection — no radio emissions, no spectrum disruption.

The result: immediate, localized protection without disrupting the local radio spectrum or endangering civilian infrastructure.

System Architecture

Optical AI beats radar for small, low-flying targets.

1
Raw Video Input — High-framerate cameras continuously capture the airspace.
2
AI Detection — A custom computer-vision model identifies drone coordinates (X, Y) in real-time.
3
UI Mapping — Coordinates are mapped onto a 2D operator interface showing live threat positions.
4
Control System — Telemetry is sent directly to a hardware microcontroller.
5
Physical Tracking — The turret autonomously tracks and aims at the drone's flight path.

Competitive Advantage

Current solutions either disrupt local communications, destroy friendly electronics, or cost millions. SkySweep fills the tactical gap.

Capability SkySweep RF Jamming Targeted EMPs Radar + Kinetic
Localized Protection (No Radio Interference)
Safe for Civilian Infrastructure (No Collateral)
Cost-Effective Scalability & Deployment
Passive Detection (Zero Electronic Signature)

Deployment Versatility

Civilian Infrastructure

Permanently mounted around critical infrastructure perimeters or airport control towers to ensure commercial flight paths remain clear and safe.

Defense & Tactical

Lightweight enough to be mounted onto mobile infantry vehicles or temporarily deployed on tripods to protect forward operating bases (FOBs).

Security & Misuse Mitigations

Proactively engineering safeguards against accidental targeting and both physical and remote exploitation.

Identify Friend or Foe

Integrates IFF protocols so that authorized commercial, medical, or military logistics drones are entirely bypassed.

Air-Gapped Core

No remote access to the processing core prevents remote cyber-attacks and unauthorized system takeover.

Physical Override

Hardware and firmware enforce strict access limits, physically preventing the system from being repurposed for rogue operations.

Roadmap

MVP Delivered

A working UI capable of identifying and tracking drones in real-time, paired with a physical launch apparatus that swivels and aims dynamically based on the detection feed. The current prototype requires a manual control trigger to fire.

Future Development

Technology Stack

Python
Computer Vision
Custom AI Detection Model
Embedded Systems
Hardware Systems
Microcontroller
Servo Control
Collaboration

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