Capture of UAVs Through GPS Spoofing

Abstract

The increased use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones, by civilians has grown exponentially and its autonomous flight control systems have improved significantly, which has resulted in a greater number of accidents and dangerous situations. In this paper, we address the use of low-cost programmable Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms for simulating a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), more specifically Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, in order to transmit false signals and induce a location error on the targeted GPS receiver. Using this approach, a defensive system was implemented which can divert, or even take control of unauthorized UAVs whose flight path depends on the information obtained by the GPS system.