Prandtl Dynamics — a startup founded by a group of U of T engineering students that creates anti-drone systems — is breaking new ground in the aerospace and defence sectors with its nonlethal anti-Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) technology. This technology uses acoustic systems — the use of sound waves — to neutralize drone threats, offering a safer alternative for military and civilian applications. 

From May 27 to June 21, Canada’s department of National Defense at Suffield Canadian Forces Base in Alberta hosted the Counter-UAS Challenge. This international competition was an opportunity for companies to showcase their anti-drone technologies. Prandtl Dynamics placed second and was awarded $375,000. Prandtl Dynamics made history as the first student-led team in the event, competing against major aerospace companies, including Boeing, Sentrycs, and Arcfield.

Prandtl Dynamic’s technology

Four U of T engineering students co-founded Prandtl Dynamics. Parth Mahendru, a fourth-year aerospace engineering student; Anna Poletaeva, a third-year who studies material sciences; Asad Ishaq, a fourth-year machine intelligence and robotics student; and Michael Acquaviva, a fourth-year specializing in electrical engineering.

Prandtl’s anti-drone technology stands out in the defence industry for its unique, nondestructive approach to neutralizing threats. Unlike ‘jamming’ systems that interfere with communication or kinetic methods that physically intercept drones, this system uses acoustic waves to disrupt internal electronics. 

Prandtl focuses on defence and private sector markets, though most of its efforts are currently directed at refining its technology. 

The team prioritizes improvements based on insights from the Counter-UAS Challenge, with enhancements like waterproofing, wind resistance, and increased range. Given its non-lethal, non-destructive design, they see potential applications in urban areas for civilian safety. 

“If you’re at a concert arena and… there’s a drone over you, our technology will help you safely get it down… we can [direct] the drone to where we want it to be,” Parth explained.

Prandtl is already building a presence in the aerospace and defence industry. “We have a different market that does not… conflict with anyone else, just because of the novelty of the idea,” Mahendru noted. Moreover, the team is actively seeking partnerships and expertise from industry experts.

Solution to the threat

Developing this technology is challenging, as acoustics in drone tech remains largely uncharted. With limited resources, the team relied on research from as far back as the 1960s, often testing and troubleshooting in their own apartments. During testing, they encountered numerous obstacles, such as unanticipated magnetic interference that affected the precision of their ultrasonic targeting. 

The non-destructive solution resonated with the team. “Not everything has to be violent or… destructive,” Poletaev said. This philosophy guided their decision to design a solution targeting only the drone’s internal components. 

Focusing ultrasonic waves on specific points creates resonant frequencies that interfere with core systems, enabling the team to remotely influence a drone’s behaviour. The system can send targeted ultrasonic frequencies — sounds with a frequency above 20,000 hertz — to destabilize critical components of the drone to allow responses from nudging the drone off course to distorting altimeter readings, which can cause a rapid descent. 

“[Our technology can make a drone] think that it’s 5,000 feet off the ground when it’s actually just a few metres above,” Mahendru explained. The system can also disrupt visual feeds for drones relying on cameras, making navigation nearly impossible. It can reduce visuals to mere pixels or even disable the camera.

Another challenge was the sheer power required to drive their acoustic array. They constructed a makeshift device with transducers arranged in a circular dish, but keeping it stable and energy-efficient proved difficult. The team spent hours remodelling their design, learning to adapt and refine it for maximum range and effectiveness. 

Prandtl’s future plans 

After their second-place finish at the Sandbox competition, the Prandtl Dynamics team met to discuss future goals. “We want to work on… mentally stimulating [challenges] that… can have a real… positive impact,” Parth said, emphasizing their commitment to creating a purely defensive, non-lethal technology designed to protect without harm.

What excites them most is the freedom to shape their company, allowing the exploration of ideas without conventional restrictions. “Working for ourselves,” he added, “that’s what’s most exciting.”

Poletaeva finds the journey ahead equally inspiring, noting that this project is “the challenge that keeps calling.” 

Right now, that challenge is expanding the range of their technology, amplifying the system to work even more effectively.