Systems and methods for detecting and managing the unauthorized use of an unmanned aircraft

A method of confirming the source of control of a remotely controlled vehicle (“RCV”), and of remediating improper control of said RCV, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining, by a police authority (“PA”), an identity of a putative registered person claiming to be a registered operator of a RCV;
• wherein identification of said putative person comprises the sub-steps of:
• (1) storing registered alphanumeric and biologic identification information of at least one registered person allowed to operate said RCV in a database;
• (2) transmitting putative alphanumeric and biologic identification information of said putative registered person wishing to operate said RCV;
• (3) comparing the stored registered identification information with the putative identification information;
• and
• (4) determining an operator match upon determining a match between the identification information of said putative registered person and identification information of one registered person;
• (b) determining, by said PA, a vehicle identification of the RCV;
• wherein said vehicle identification comprises the sub-steps of:
• (1) storing registered vehicle identification information pertaining to at least one allowed RCV in a database;
• (2) transmitting putative vehicle identification information of a RCV operated by said person wishing to operate said RCV,
• (3) comparing the stored registered vehicle identification information with the putative vehicle identification information;
• and
• (4) determining a vehicle match upon determining a match between the registered vehicle identification information and the putative vehicle identification information;
• (c) determining, by said PA, an operator-vehicle match, by determining that a particular RCV control instruction inputted to an identified RCV by an identified putative registered person, results in an action of said identified RCV specified by said particular instruction;
• wherein the determination of said operator-vehicle match comprises observing specific action pertaining to the performance of said identified RCV in response to said inputted particular instruction;
• (d) determining and providing a first indication of improper RCV control in the absence of any one or more of said operator match, said vehicle match and said operator-vehicle match;
• and
• (e) based on said determination of said step (d), providing an interrogation command to said RCV, wherein said command comprises a demand for additional information from said RCV, said additional information comprising at least one of additional putative registered person identifying information, additional vehicle identifying information, and additional information for determining said operator-vehicle match;
• (f) based on receipt, by said PA, of said additional information, and a determination by said PA of the presence of each of said operator match, said vehicle match and said operator-vehicle match, determining, by said PA, proper control of said RCV;
• (g1) based on receipt, by said PA, of said additional information and determining, by said PA, a second indication of improper RCV control, transmitting, by said PA to said putative registered person, a sequence of escorting commands for input to said RCV by said putative registered person, each escorting command comprising a particular control instruction specifying a particular escorting action, wherein the sequence of escorting commands, provide RCV control acceptable to said PA;
• (g2) based on observing, by said PA, any RCV action inconsistent with any respective escorting command, taking control of said RCV by said PA;
• (h) based on determining, by said PA, an absence of response to said interrogation command, taking control of said RCV by said PA.