jrs_diesel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:39 am
crazy2medic wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:16 am
What would a focused beam of microwave energy do to a drone?
Depends. Microwave has a very short wavelength, and power diminishes quickly with distance (inverse square law) like any radio wave. You would need a powerful transmitter, a very tightly focused beam, and a way to aim it. What it would do if it works is overload the circuits with energy. That could damage the circuits in a way that would render the drone inoperable, or cause erratic operation.
Some drone are autonomous, most are radio controlled. Most of the RC ones are programmed to land upon loss of the RC signal so as not to fly into anyone/anything and cause damage. One could jam the RC signal more easily than the microwave beam. Either method would very likely fall under unlicensed transmitters that the FCC regulates (i.e. it's illegal).
Good lord, is ANYTHING legal in these United States anymore??