Validation under real site conditions
Ozense is developing radar-based drone detection step by step, from a demonstrated working principle towards site-specific pilot operation. Measurable criteria and reproducible tests provide the basis for every performance assessment.
Validation at Ozense means measuring detection and tracking performance under defined, reproducible site conditions, with independently collected reference data and separate from the data used for development. Demonstrated today is radar-based detection and temporal tracking of moving target candidates under real environmental conditions; range, false-alarm behaviour and the discrimination of drones and birds are the subject of ongoing validation.
01 · From working principle to pilot operation
| Status | Current capability |
|---|---|
| Demonstrated | Radar-based detection and temporal tracking of moving target candidates under real environmental conditions. |
| In validation | Range, site robustness, false-alarm behaviour and robust discrimination between drones, birds and environmental clutter. |
| Pilot phase | Reproducible site tests, extended area coverage and integration into existing security processes. |
02 · How we produce dependable measurements
During development, detection, tracking and signal processing are examined step by step under controlled and real conditions. For formal validation, target events and reference data are collected independently, and development, tuning and validation data are kept separate.
A measurement is meaningful only when its test setup and assessment can be traced. Ozense validation therefore follows four principles:
- Criteria before the test. Measurement criteria and evaluation logic are set before the test data is assessed.
- Independent reference. Target positions and events are compared with separately collected reference data.
- Separated evaluation. Development and validation data remain separate.
- Reproducible results. Raw data, software and configuration state are documented so that an evaluation can be repeated.
Detection, tracking, target assessment and false alarms are evaluated separately. This makes clear where a system performs reliably and where further development is required.
03 · Performance is site-specific
Radar performance cannot be reduced to a single datasheet value. Target size, flight profile, installation, vegetation, buildings, weather and system configuration jointly affect detection and tracking.
Detection performance depends on factors including target size, radar cross section, geometry, environment and sensor configuration and is validated under real site conditions. The planned validation follows, among others, the methodology of CWA 18150:2024, a CEN Workshop Agreement on performance assessment of counter-UAS systems.
Ozense therefore assesses performance against defined scenarios and real site conditions. Quantitative results are communicated as dependable performance figures only once their test conditions and evaluation are clearly attributable and reproducible.
04 · Development status by system function
| System function | Status | Next evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Radar capture and tracking | Demonstrated | Transfer to additional sites and scenarios |
| Drone, bird and environmental clutter | In validation | Robust assessment across different sites |
| False alarms, weather and site behaviour | In validation | Longer measurement series under changing conditions |
| PTZ cueing and VMS integration | Pilot phase | End-to-end evidence in a site's security process |
| Pilot-capable sensor node | Pilot phase | Build, integration and site-specific trial |
Ozense is in the pre-founding and development stage. There is currently no series-ready or orderable product.
05 · System scope and responsibility
- Radar-based detection. Ozense detects and tracks target candidates independently of visible light and a radio link to the drone.
- Conservative assessment. If the evidence is inconclusive, an event remains explicitly unknown rather than being forced into a class.
- On-site processing. Evaluation takes place locally; an existing camera is intended to be cued only for relevant events.
- Site-specific integration. Interfaces, response paths and assessment criteria are defined for each pilot site.
- No active countermeasures. Ozense detects, assesses, documents and alerts. Neutralisation is not part of the system.
- Operation within the applicable legal framework. Frequency use, data protection and site-specific requirements are assessed separately before pilot operation.
Assess a pilot project for your site.
Together, we define the operating scenario, relevant target types and measurable criteria for a site-specific pilot trial.
Enquire about a pilot projectFrequently asked questions
What range has Ozense actually demonstrated so far?
Ozense has demonstrated radar-based detection and temporal tracking of small moving target candidates under real environmental conditions. Range is not a single transferable value, however: target size, flight profile, site, installation and system configuration all interact. Dependable range figures for pilot operation are therefore established under clearly defined and reproducible site conditions.
Is Ozense already a deployable product?
No. Ozense is a pre-founding research and development project. There is no orderable product, no released price, no series hardware and no completed field validation. The goal of the planned funding phase is a pilot-capable proof of concept.
Can radar tell drones apart from birds?
Yes — this is the established approach. Rotating propellers and beating wings produce distinctly different micro-Doppler signatures, and radar cross section fluctuation differs systematically too. Ozense evaluates these features together with track and temporal features. The real work lies in keeping that discrimination stable across different sites and clutter conditions, which is exactly what the ongoing field validation addresses.
All answers: FAQ