New screening mannequin identifies drone elements earlier than they attain safe areas
Athena Safety has launched a brand new AI-powered X-ray detection mannequin designed to establish drone elements earlier than they are often assembled or introduced into restricted areas. The system responds to a rising variety of drone-related incidents world wide and goals to present operators of important infrastructure extra time to behave earlier than threats emerge.
The corporate unveiled the Drone Protection Detection Mannequin as an extension of its AI Assisted X-ray screening suite. It’s designed to detect motors, propellers, electronics, battery packs, and different drone elements hidden inside luggage, baggage, or cargo.
“At present’s drones are cheap, stealthy and scalable. Ready for an incident is not a viable protection,” says Chris Ciabarra, Co-founder and CTO of Athena Safety. “Our purpose is to present important infrastructure operators an opportunity to cease threats earlier than they attain the safe perimeter—whether or not the risk arrives by backpack, cargo bay, or is assembled onsite.”
Rising Drone Exercise Raises Safety Considerations
Drone exercise has elevated at a speedy tempo lately. The corporate notes that main drone incidents worldwide have risen greater than 60 p.c. The FAA has reported a 25.6 p.c enhance in unlawful drone incursions since 2024.
Conflicts overseas have highlighted how cheap drones can be utilized to break infrastructure or disrupt public companies. Each Russia and Ukraine have deployed low-cost drones to strike targets similar to rail strains, vitality techniques, and logistics depots.
In October 2025, Russia launched greater than 300 drones and missiles at Ukraine’s vitality grid, inflicting outages throughout a number of areas.
Drone disturbances have additionally affected airports all through Europe. Munich Airport canceled 17 flights and halted journey for practically 3,000 passengers throughout a seven-hour shutdown after drone sightings in October 2025. Copenhagen Airport skilled the same disruption the month earlier than, stopping all takeoffs and landings for practically 4 hours. One other incident close to Fuerteventura Airport in Spain brought about delays and flight diversions.
These occasions present how small, low-cost drones can create large-scale penalties for each civilian and army operations.
Detecting Drone Parts Earlier than They Change into a Menace
The brand new mannequin expands Athena Safety’s X-ray expertise past conventional weapons detection. The system makes use of machine studying to establish drone elements—even when they’re disguised or packed inside different objects.
Many drone threats start earlier than the plane is assembled. In some previous circumstances, drone elements had been smuggled into restricted areas in small items and put collectively after safety checkpoints. Athena Safety states that related dangers may have an effect on U.S. airports, vitality amenities, and different important websites.
The corporate constructed the brand new mannequin after a consumer skilled a drone breach.
“Considered one of our purchasers had a drone incident that compromised their airspace. They wanted a approach to detect small drones and their elements earlier than they turned a risk,” shares Ciabarra. “They understood the dangers and requested if we may assist—so we constructed it.”
Options of Athena Safety’s Drone Detection Mannequin
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Excessive-fidelity function recognition with the power to establish even compact or disguised elements
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Low false-positive tuning to cut back pointless alarms
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Integration with entry management techniques that may set off alerts or safety responses
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Scalable deployment for checkpoints, cargo entrances, perimeter gates, and unmanned stations
Assembly the Wants of Trendy Safety Operators
As drones turn into extra frequent, danger expands for a lot of sectors. Border areas, ports, stadiums, information facilities, logistics hubs, and different high-traffic websites face new challenges. Safety groups are transferring towards early detection slightly than counting on reactive countermeasures.
Athena Safety views its new mannequin as a pure addition to current AI X-ray deployments. The corporate can be in discussions with authorities companies and personal operators to start pilot applications.
As well as, Athena is exploring partnerships with counter-UAS corporations, digital warfare suppliers, and safety integrators to construct layered protection techniques that mix detection with interception and response.
About Athena Safety
Athena Safety develops AI-powered instruments for risk detection, together with weapons detection, customer administration, AI X-ray, telepresence, and sensible glasses applied sciences. Its merchandise defend amenities, folks, and key belongings in private and non-private environments. The corporate relies in Austin, Texas, with places of work in San Francisco and Jacksonville.
Extra info is obtainable at www.Athena-Safety.com.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the business drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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