As Lithuania steps up preparations for potential aerial threats, a new civic initiative is encouraging residents to turn unused Android smartphones into acoustic drone detectors that could help identify low-flying aircraft.
The project, called Drone Radar, aims to supplement existing warning systems by creating a network of sensors capable of detecting the sound of approaching drones.
Project creator Audrius Zujus said early warning systems alone are not enough and should be complemented by additional tools that can identify threats more quickly.
“We allow people to connect old, unused Android phones and, for the first time in the world, create an acoustic radar of this kind,” Zujus said. “The device detects drones by listening for the buzzing sound they produce.”
Acoustic sensors are already widely used in Ukraine. They record sounds, which specialised software compares with a database of known audio signatures to determine whether they match drones or other flying objects.
