Prague – The Czech robotic system Eagle.one, capable of safely capturing unauthorized drones in protected airspace using artificial intelligence, was highlighted by the European Commission in a report on the state of the union. The Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), which collaborated on the project with the company Fly4Future, informed about this in a press release today.
“The project, presented in November 2024 and supported by the European Regional Development Fund, focuses on the development of an autonomous flying robot that uses onboard artificial intelligence to safely capture unauthorized drones in protected airspace without destroying them, which is crucial especially in civil applications,” the commission’s report states.
The Eagle.one system differs from other solutions in that it does not damage drones but captures them in a net and safely lands them at a designated location. According to the developers, this is important especially in situations where drones may be carrying explosives or other dangerous substances. The demand for the technology, according to the university, comes from airports, prisons, border crossings, and operators of critical infrastructure and defense forces.
“For us, it is a huge encouragement that the project made it into the European Commission’s report on the state of the union. We see it not only as recognition of the work of the entire team but also as confirmation that our technology makes sense and has real benefits,” said Věra Saxková from Fly4Future.
Eagle.one weighs 15 kilograms, has eight rotors, and can fly at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Thanks to its onboard artificial intelligence, it reacts to the unpredictable movement of targets and can capture multiple drones in a single mission. The system is housed in a mobile hangar that ensures continuous readiness. Its deployment has been tested, for example, in collaboration with the Czech Prison Service. The development involves the Multirobotic Systems Group (MRS) from the Department of Cybernetics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of CTU.
According to the university, institutions around the world are showing interest in the technology. The current production capacity is insufficient to cover all orders and must be addressed with a delay, said Ladislav Urbánek from Eagle.One. (September 15)
