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Report: Drone detection system was tested at MLB All-Star game
In a story that will do more to startle us than make us feel safer, the New York Times is reporting that the MLB All-Star game in Minneapolis was secretly used as a testing site for a system used to identify drones.
According to the report, the radar kept an eye on the sky above Target Field and successfully served its purpose for the experiment. That's the good news, which should make us feel a little safer as baseball fans, Americans and, frankly, as mortal human beings. However, the troubling news is there were no measures in place to prevent drones from actually entering the stadium, and the expenses involved kept MLB from using a full blown detection system during the postseason.
Here's more from the Times report:
Using finely tuned detection programs brought in by the Department of Homeland Security, “Operation Foul Ball,” as it was known, identified several small, commercial drones flying in the area. Some were similar to the quadcopter that crashed on the White House lawn Monday.
But the drone detection system, which was considered one of the most advanced in the country and cost several hundred thousand dollars to operate for just that night, had no way of actually stopping drones from flying into the stadium. There was even confusion about whether one of the drones belonged to ESPN.
Confronted with the system’s cost and limitations, baseball officials decided not to use it for the postseason. But those officials had no warning before a drone hovered over at least one playoff game.
It's noted that while drones have not been used in a terrorist attack on American soil, there's always a level of concern that it could easily be modified to carry small explosives or other materials that pose a serious threat to public safety.
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The story also includes a photo of a drone that hovered over the Wrigley Field scoreboard this past season, which further highlights our vulnerability.
Of course, drones are also used to keep us safe, and will likely be the future in providing a new perspective of major sporting events, such as this weekend's Super Bowl. With that in mind, there's no clear indication what, if any, drone detection device will be used on Sunday, though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning stating that anyone flying drones over the stadium could be “intercepted, detained and interviewed.”
Obviously, there's a monumental challenge that awaits officials in terms of identifying harmless drones and eliminating those that may pose threats. The detection system is a good place to start, but new regulations that prevent unauthorized drones from flying around sporting events and other large gatherings will surely have to follow.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
