The initiative to establish a civic acoustic drone detection network aims to recruit 10,000 active participants across the Baltic region and Poland. This project, known as Drone Radar, seeks to enhance societal security by leveraging unused Android smartphones to monitor ambient sounds for specific drone engine signatures.
Led by Audrius Zujus, founder of the Mainline startup, the initiative features a dual approach: an interactive public map and a sensor app for volunteers. The project currently engages a team of 20 specialists, collaborating with various technology and security sector partners, including the Lithuanian Artificial Intelligence Association and the Baltic Institute of Technology.
Future plans include the integration of audio data from surveillance cameras and potential partnerships with major mobile network operators for sensor installations on telecommunications towers. The aim is to create a real-time monitoring system that will improve as more devices are connected, while ensuring user privacy is prioritized.