Today, a research team from Tambov State Technical University (TSTU) unveiled a sophisticated system that leverages artificial intelligence to suppress unauthorized small drones. The work was reported by TASS, citing the project’s scientific supervisor, associate professor of the Radioelectronics and Microprocessor Systems Design Department, Oleg Belousov. The development reflects serious attention to national security needs and civil aviation safety, and it sits at the intersection of advanced robotics, communications technology, and autonomous control.
Belousov explained that the university has implemented acceleration programs designed to translate research into practical solutions. In light of current geopolitical considerations, the team aimed to create a system capable of installing spatial barriers for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The objective is not merely to observe drone activity but to provide a controlled response that can prevent incursions into restricted airspace while minimizing collateral disruption to legitimate operations. This approach emphasizes responsible use, situational awareness, and the ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of drone technology.
The project benefits from the involvement of a diverse group of students, including four undergraduates, three additional undergraduates, and one graduate student. Their collaboration has produced a platform with tangible technological advantages when compared with similar solutions currently on the market. Central to the system is a radio platform engineered to operate across a wide frequency range, coupled with a design that allows quick reconfiguration. This flexibility means the system can be deployed in different environments and adjusted for various drone technologies without extensive hardware changes.
During development, the team focused on reliability, ease of deployment, and compatibility with existing safety protocols. The system is designed to detect, classify, and respond to drones in real time, enabling operators to implement containment measures, redirect flight paths, or trigger alarms as appropriate. By emphasizing modularity, the developers have created a tool that can evolve alongside drone capabilities, rather than becoming obsolete as new models appear. The emphasis on a broad frequency footprint helps to ensure robust performance across diverse regions and conditions, which is particularly important for a technology that must operate under varying regulatory and environmental constraints.
In parallel to the university project, government officials have discussed regulatory considerations surrounding drone operations. Vasily Shpak, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, suggested the possibility of including certain drone types within an experimental legal regime. If implemented, this could lead to a relaxation of the flight ban in some regions, enabling a controlled testbed for new restrictions and countermeasures. The dialogue reflects a broader policy goal of balancing innovation with public safety and national security concerns, and it highlights the ongoing dialogue between researchers, industry, and regulators as drone technology continues to mature.
Taken together, these developments illustrate how academic institutions are contributing to national resilience in the drone era. The Tambov project demonstrates how targeted AI-enabled systems can supplement traditional airspace management, offering precise, enforceable responses when needed while respecting safety and privacy considerations. Oleg Belousov and his team emphasize that the work is built on rigorous testing, transparent criteria for activation, and a commitment to continuous improvement as drone capabilities evolve. The collaboration among educators, students, and policymakers signals a proactive approach to integrating advanced demonstrations into real-world contexts, with an emphasis on safety, accountability, and scalable design. [Source: TASS]