Innovation honored: "Golden Idea Award 2018" for drone defense system

The civilian drone market has been growing steadily worldwide for years. At the same time, drones are becoming cheaper and more powerful. But as exciting and innovative as the new technology may be, it unfortunately also harbors new dangers, because destructive forces are also increasingly taking advantage of the new application possibilities. Whether it's smuggling attempts into prisons, spying on system-critical buildings or facilities, or even attacks with explosives-laden drones - the potential for misuse of these devices is huge.

Danger potential of drones

Due to the rapidly increasing sales figures of small drones and the associated increase in the potential danger, the Chur-based company Droptec has developed a drone defense system called "Dropster" for close range at the intention of the Grisons cantonal police. The Dropster is a handy pistol-sized drone defense system that can shoot a tear-proof net up to 50 meters away using a blank cartridge. This allows police and security forces to capture small drones weighing up to 30 kg in a case of abuse and take them out of the sky. For correctional facilities in particular, the Dropster thus offers a way to close a security gap that should not be underestimated. For this, the young company will receive the coveted "Golden Idea Award" this year from IDEE-SUISSE, the Swiss Society for Idea and Innovation Management.

Great market potential

The three company founders will proudly accept the award at the Chur Civil Defense Training Center Meiersboden. "What counts for us is that with our Dropster we can provide security forces with a tool that gives them a measure in hand to prevent worse in an emergency," says Tom Lardelli, Droptec's marketing and sales manager. In addition to production and sales, Droptec also offers its customers training in the handling and use of the Dropster. In this way, participants learn to recognize the danger of a drone and how to react in an emergency. The huge positive response to the product spurred the company to gain a foothold in the international drone defense market as well. The Chur-based network launcher is also already being used by foreign police forces, prisons and intelligence services, and Droptec sees great market potential, especially abroad. This is especially true because although there are comparable products on the market, they are too expensive to purchase or can usually only be used by specialists.

More information: www.droptec.ch