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Solution Blueprint · Low-Altitude Security

Drone Detection For Critical Sites: Designing A Layered System

Detect drones early, confirm them visually, locate the pilot and keep evidence, around the clock.

Layers
Standalone
Products
Flying Bird
Reading time
4 minutes
Last reviewed
October 2026
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The Problem

You’ll recognise this if:

Drones film, drop items or intrude over your site, and you find out afterwards.

Guards cannot see small drones, or tell where the pilot is.

Incidents leave no evidence that the Police or the Civil Aviation Department can use.

Drone traffic is growing as Hong Kong develops its low-altitude economy.

Why Now

Hong Kong is developing its low-altitude economy. A regulatory sandbox began in March 2025, Regulatory Sandbox X followed in November 2025, and the Small Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Order 2025 extended the regime to heavier drones. More authorised flights make it more important to tell them apart from unauthorised ones.

Sources: Transport and Logistics Bureau: low-altitude economy, May 2025 (opens in a new tab); OpenGov Asia: Hong Kong sandbox trials and regulatory development (opens in a new tab)

What Good Looks Like

We agree these measures with you as the exit criteria of the PoC. We report what we measure; we do not promise a figure in advance.

  • Detection coverage, confirmed with whitelisted test flights
  • Time from detection to an alert in the control room
  • Pilot location accuracy in your environment
  • Completeness of the evidence pack for each event

System Design

Each tier covers what the one before it cannot. Together they turn a radio signal into a confirmed target, a located pilot and a usable record.

  1. 01

    Detect

    Fixed passive radio detectors (20 MHz–6 GHz, 360°) identify drones and their controllers by signal and Remote ID. They only receive and never transmit.

  2. 02

    Verify

    An electro-optical and thermal tracker (48× optical zoom, 640×512 thermal) confirms the target visually, by day and night.

  3. 03

    Locate

    A handheld locator (about 650 g) helps guards find the pilot and covers blind spots and temporary sites.

  4. 04

    Manage

    The management platform handles alerts, whitelists, heat maps and track replay, and connects to your existing security systems.

  5. 05

    Evidence

    Each event produces a timestamped evidence pack: tracks, serial number, Remote ID, pilot position and video.

Technology Stack

Technology stack for this blueprint
LayerProductEdition / ModelRoleKey Specification
StandaloneFlying BirdFixed-mounted drone detection unitDetection20 MHz–6 GHz; 360°; 600+ drone models; 100+ targets at once; 5–8 km open, 1–3 km urban; IP66
StandaloneFlying BirdDrone electro-optical tracking systemVisual verification48× optical zoom; 640×512 uncooled thermal; for a 0.35 m drone, detection ≥2.5 km by day and ≥1.2 km at night
StandaloneFlying BirdHandheld drone locatorPilot location900+ drone models; about 650 g; 3–4 hours per charge
StandaloneFlying BirdManagement platformOperations and evidenceAlerts, whitelists, heat maps, replay and evidence packs; fully offline deployment possible

How We Deliver

Five steps, each with a clear exit before the next. The timeline is agreed with you in the Design step.

  1. 01

    Data Readiness Assessment

    A site survey: what you protect, from what, and the radio environment.

    From youSite plans and access for the survey.

  2. 02

    PoC

    A trial with whitelisted test flights to confirm detection and alerting on your site.

    From youApproval for test flights, arranged lawfully.

  3. 03

    Design

    Sensor positions, overlapping coverage, masking of residential directions, integration and procedures.

    From youYour security team’s response procedures.

  4. 04

    Implementation

    Installation (discreet where needed), integration with your security systems, procedures and staff drills.

    From youGuards and supervisors for training.

  5. 05

    Support & Optimisation

    Signature-library updates, health checks and periodic drills.

    From youReports of any events that need review.

Standards And Controls

  • Small Unmanned Aircraft Order (Cap. 448G)

    Evidence packs give the Civil Aviation Department and the Police what they need to follow up.

  • Privacy

    Recording is triggered by alerts, residential directions are masked, and data can stay fully offline on your server.

  • Radio Compliance

    The detectors only receive and never transmit, so nearby communications are unaffected.

Before You Start

Readiness Checklist

  • A clear picture of what you protect, and when.
  • A response procedure, or agreement to write one.

Risks And How We Handle Them

  • Drones without a radio linkOptical patrol scanning covers pre-programmed flights.
  • Urban radio clutterPositions are chosen after measuring the radio environment on site.

Sources

  1. Transport and Logistics Bureau: low-altitude economy, May 2025 (opens in a new tab)
  2. OpenGov Asia: Hong Kong sandbox trials and regulatory development (opens in a new tab)

Specifications: Flying Bird product specification sheets, available on request.

Last reviewed October 2026. Vendor facts change; the linked sources are the reference.

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Flying Bird
Low-altitude security: drone detection and evidence.

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See the system working, and let us measure the radio environment on your site before recommending positions.

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