1660240936270 B25f2fa795eb41a3b1d967488f77df57

Catch a drone with this homemade net-shooting gun

Sept. 8, 2017

Drones are being heralded as the next great advancement in home delivery, but these low-flying machines can pose a risk to your privacy and your sanity.

Drones are being heralded as the next great advancement in home delivery, but these low-flying machines can pose a risk to your privacy and your sanity. YouTuber Make it Extreme has devised an ingenious way to take down these pesky aerial nuisances; he has constructed a net gun. Resembling an Acme device from an old Warner Brothers cartoon, this net-shooting gun can catch a drone in one shot. Or if taking down drones isn't your thing, you can always use the contraption to try to capture animated roadrunners.

According to Eric Limer for Popular Mechanics: "The gun has a very simple principle. Using air pressure and four barrels, the gun shoots a net that is weighted on its four corners directly at the drone in question. A direct hit tangles the drone and brings it down hard, but without completely destroying it. After all, drones are pretty tough.

Given that this design requires a lot of metal and machine work, it's not quite DIY for the average tinkerer, though it probably wouldn't be too hard to bring this design to life using materials that are easier to work with like wood and PVC. For further simplification, it need not even be a net that you fire—we've got ample proof that a cloud of streamers is more than enough to tangle any drone that gets too close. So if you're looking for an engineering project to sink your teeth into, the homemade drone chaff gun is just waiting to be invented."

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

Sponsored Recommendations

Effective Enclosure Heating

Aug. 22, 2024
Effective enclosure heating is essential for peak operational efficiency in outdoor and indoor contexts.

Busbar: The Next Evolutionary Step in Control Panel Design

Aug. 22, 2024
Learn how busbar power distribution can help control panel manufacturers unlock enhanced safety, lower costs, and a reduced automation footprint.

Reduce Contamination with the Right Enclosure for Your Food and Beverage Application

Aug. 22, 2024
Protecting electrical controls and equipment within food and beverage plants presents unique challenges due to the sanitation requirements of the hygienic environment.

Enclosure Climate Control: Achieving the Ideal Temperature

March 28, 2024
There are several factors to consider when optimizing the climate inside your electrical enclosure. Download this white paper to learn more.