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say hello to my little friend

This bazooka lets you capture unwanted drones with a net from 100 metres away

The Skywall 100 is able bring drones down to the ground intact.

DRONES ARE EVERYWHERE these days.

Chances are you’ve a seen one buzzing overhead at a park or above neighborhood streets, and companies like Intel and GoPro are rushing to cash in on the trend.

But not everyone is a fan of the remotely-piloted devices, especially when drones go places they shouldn’t to surreptitiously shoot video footage of private events or cause other potential security concerns.

A group of engineers in England has come up with a way to thwart the drone menace. A shoulder-fired air-powered bazooka known as the Skywall 100 that can down a drone from 100 metres away.

Rather than obliterating the drone in the sky, the SkyWall’s missile traps the drone in a net, bringing it down to the ground intact.

A spokesperson for OpenWorks Engineering, which makes the Skywall 100, wouldn’t provide a price for the device, noting that price will depend on quantity purchased and other factors.

In development for seven months, the SkyWall 100 is expected to be in some customer’s hands by the end of the year, he said.

The company has created a video to show off how it works. Check it out:

Airports are a no-go zone for drones, given the safety problems that arise when the little quadcopters enter the airspace of commercial airliners.

airports-are-a-no-go-zone-for-drones-given-the-safety-problems-that-arise-when-the-little-quad-copters-enter-the-airspace-of-commercial-airliners OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

An unauthorised quadcopter drone is clearly going someplace it shouldn’t.

an-unauthorized-quad-copter-drone-is-clearly-going-someplace-it-shouldnt OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

Security is quickly alerted to the drone intruder and rushes to the scene.

security-is-quickly-alerted-to-the-drone-intruder-and-rushes-to-the-scene OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

Luckily the security guard has a special briefcase in his jeep.

and-look-whats-inside OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

The SkyWall 100 is pretty big and weighs about 22 pounds, but it is quickly hoisted atop the security guard’s shoulder.

the-skywall-100-is-pretty-big-and-weighs-about-22-pounds-but-it-is-quickly-hoisted-atop-the-security-guards-shoulder OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

To use it, you look through the special “smart scope” which calculates the drone’s flight path and tells you where to aim.

to-use-it-you-look-through-the-special-smart-scope-which-calculates-the-drones-flight-path-and-tells-you-where-to-aim OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

A digital display makes it easy to lock on to the flying target.

a-digital-display-makes-it-easy-to-lock-on-to-the-flying-target OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

The SkyWall uses compressed air to fire a projectile that can travel up to 100 metres. It can be reloaded in eight seconds.

the-skywall-uses-compressed-air-to-fire-a-projectile-that-can-travel-up-to-100-meters-roughly-328-feet-it-can-be-reloaded-in-8-seconds OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

Once the projectile is in the air, it releases a wide net to catch the drone.

once-the-projectile-is-in-the-air-it-releases-a-wide-net-to-catch-the-drone OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

After snagging the drone in the net, a parachute is deployed to bring the drone back to earth without getting damaged.

after-snagging-the-drone-in-the-net-a-parachute-is-deployed-to-bring-the-drone-back-to-earth-without-getting-damaged OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube OpenWorks Engineering / YouTube / YouTube

Watch the full OpenWorks Engineering video:

OpenWorks / YouTube

Read: Someone set a world record for the fastest-ever electric skateboard run >

Read: Australia is now using drones to help stop shark attacks >

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