Engineers from St. Petersburg created a mobile complex to protect roads and convoys from drones

Engineers from St. Petersburg have developed and patented a mobile platform that allows for the rapid creation of extended anti-drone barriers. The new design is intended to protect roads, vehicle convoys, and stationary objects from unmanned aerial vehicle attacks.

The main feature of the development is that the width of the net deployment can be changed directly during the barrier preparation. For this purpose, rotating racks with net rolls are installed on the vehicle's body platform. They are fixed not only in the extreme but also in intermediate positions, allowing the system to adapt to the width of a specific terrain section.

Another feature of the platform is the automatic net tension maintenance mechanism. As the roll diameter decreases, the system independently changes the braking force so that the net unwinds evenly without sagging or spontaneous material release. This effect is achieved through a combination of a friction brake, a spring-loaded roller that monitors the roll size, and a system of levers that regulate the clamping force.

The design provides for the installation of at least two rolls of anti-drone net on rotating racks. Upon arrival at the site, the operator moves them from the transport position to the working position, secures the free ends of the net to the supports, after which, as the vehicle moves, the net gradually unwinds and forms an extended protective barrier.

The developers also provided for the possibility of quick roll replacement, and the racks themselves can be equipped with mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic fasteners. This should reduce the time required to prepare the system for reuse.