Remote ID Detection Systems: How They Help with Airspace Safety & Risk Mitigation

From busy international airports to critical infrastructure sites, drones have become a double-edged sword—hugely beneficial for commercial and public safety operations yet potentially disruptive when flown irresponsibly. To manage this risk, the FAA’s Remote ID rule officially went into effect on September 16, 2023, requiring almost every drone in U.S. airspace to broadcast identification and location information during flight.

But Remote ID is only part of the solution—equally important is RID detection that allows authorities and organizations to actually identify Remote ID–compliant aircraft. In this post, we’ll explore what Remote ID is, why detecting RID signals matters for safety, how these detection systems work, and the top solutions on the market today.

What is Remote ID?

At its core, Remote ID is the ability of a drone in flight to broadcast identification and telemetry info that other parties can receive. Think of it as a digital license plate: the drone continuously sends out packets of data (via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) that include details like the drone’s location, altitude, velocity, a unique ID (usually the serial or session ID), and even the location of the pilot’s ground controller.

Why was RID created? With drones proliferating the national airspace, the FAA needed a scalable way to monitor drone flights and enhance accountability. Remote ID provides a foundation of safety and security for more complex operations (like flights beyond visual line of sight) by making drones openly visible to other airspace stakeholders. For example, if a drone is flying in an unsafe manner or over a restricted area, law enforcement can use its RID signal to quickly locate the control station on the ground. In short, RID brings greater transparency to who is flying what, where.

Why Remote ID Detection is Important

Even with RID mandated, drones can still pose risks if they enter sensitive airspace undetected. Unauthorized drones near critical infrastructure, airports, public events, or emergency scenes can lead to safety incidents, privacy breaches, or operational disruptions. Remote ID detection systems help mitigate these risks by giving security personnel real-time visibility into drone activity that was previously invisible.

By capturing the RID broadcasts of any drone in the vicinity, these systems let authorities see and identify drones they otherwise wouldn’t know about. This enhanced visibility is crucial for distinguishing between friendly drones (operating with permission) and unauthorized or malicious ones. In fact, having access to a drone’s identity and flight data in real time allows security teams to quickly differentiate legitimate operations from potential threats.

Another key benefit is accountability. Traditional anti-drone measures (like radar or visual spotting) might tell you something is in the air, but not who is behind it. RID detection, on the other hand, provides a direct link to the drone’s registration ID and the pilot’s location on the ground. This means if someone is flying where they shouldn’t, law enforcement can be dispatched to the pilot’s position straight away. It’s a game-changer for security and public safety agencies that need to hold bad actors accountable.

The growing adoption of advanced drone operations also makes RID detection increasingly important. Public safety departments are rolling out Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs that send drones ahead of patrol units. These BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flights crisscross urban areas where other drones might be present. RID detection systems allow DFR operators to be alerted if, say, a hobbyist drone is nearby, so they can avoid mid-air conflicts. The same goes for drone delivery trials and other urban BVLOS missions—airspace awareness via RID is essential for collision avoidance and risk mitigation in these more complex scenarios.

Finally, RID detection adds a layer of security for critical infrastructure inspections and private security operations. Facility security teams (at power plants, data centers, prisons, etc.) can set up RID receivers to know immediately if a drone is circling where it shouldn’t be. Instead of being caught off-guard by an intruding drone (which could be filming, spying, or carrying contraband), security can get an alert and respond proactively.

In sectors like defense and counter-UAS, Remote ID data is now a valuable feed into larger threat detection systems—helping cue defenses only when a drone lacks a valid ID or behaves suspiciously.

How RID Detection Systems Work

Remote ID detection systems continuously scan the wireless spectrum for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals that drones use to broadcast their RID data. Under the FAA standard, a compliant drone broadcasts its ID message once per second (or more), either via Bluetooth Low Energy or Wi-Fi protocols. These broadcasts are unencrypted and designed to be received by any compatible device within range.

In fact, anyone with a smartphone could download a basic RID receiver app and pick up nearby drone pings. However, a phone’s detection range is very limited due to its small antenna and power constraints. Professional RID detection systems overcome this by using purpose-built antennas, radios, and software to capture drone signals from much farther away.

So, what happens when a drone flies into an area being monitored? The RID detector’s radio will lock onto the drone’s broadcast signal and decode the data in real time. Key information like the drone’s GPS location, altitude, speed, heading, unique ID number, and the launch point (pilot) location are collected and displayed on a user interface. Typically, the system will plot the drone on a map, often with a trail of its recent flight path, and mark the pilot’s position separately. Alerts can be set so that if any drone signal appears within a designated geo-fence or no-fly zone, security is notified immediately on their computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Different RID detection setups suit different needs. Handheld or mobile receivers are small devices that an officer or team can carry with them to scan the area on the go. An example is the Dronetag RIDER, a pocket-sized RID receiver that shows both the drone and pilot’s location in real time via a mobile app. Despite its compact form, it can pick up signals from drones up to about 3 miles away in ideal conditions. There are also wearable detectors like DroneShield’s RfPatrol, a pager-sized unit that law enforcement or military personnel can wear to get alerts whenever any drone is nearby (it vibrates or flashes an alert but remains covert, since it’s purely passive).

On the other end of the spectrum are fixed and networked RID sensors. These are larger receivers (often weatherproof boxes with antennas) that can be mounted on poles, rooftops, towers, or vehicles to continuously monitor a wide area. They typically boast greater range and can be deployed in numbers to blanket a facility or even an entire city with coverage.

Data integration is another important aspect of how these systems work. The raw RID data by itself is useful, but it becomes powerful when integrated into command-and-control software. Many detection systems funnel their data to a cloud platform or a local server application. There, multiple feeds (from several sensors, or even other detection tools like radar) can be combined into one situational picture. Modern airspace security platforms ingest RID signals alongside other sensor inputs to provide a unified display and intelligent alerts. They can cross-reference a drone’s RID against known friendlies or expected operations—if a drone isn’t on the whitelist, it’s flagged as a possible intrusion. They also log all detections for forensic analysis later, which is useful for identifying repeat offenders or investigating incidents.

It’s worth noting that RID detection only works if the drone is compliant and broadcasting. A determined malicious actor might try to disable or spoof their RID. Thus, for high-security needs, RID detection is often one layer among many (augmented by radar, optical trackers, RF direction-finders, etc., to catch non-compliant drones). Still, with the vast majority of commercial drones now complying with RID, these detection systems will pick up most drones in the airspace.

Top Remote ID Detection Solutions on the Market

With the Remote ID rule now in force, several companies have introduced RID detection tools to help enterprises and government users monitor their airspace. Below is a summary of some of the top Remote ID detection solutions available today, ranging from portable scanners to enterprise networked systems:

An Essential Component in Airspace Safety

Remote ID detection systems are quickly becoming an essential component of airspace safety. They empower agencies and organizations to see the unseen, transforming anonymous drone flights into actionable intelligence. By leveraging RID detectors, public safety teams can respond faster to unauthorized drones, critical infrastructure operators can protect their sites from prying eyes, and all drone stakeholders gain a higher level of confidence in managing airspace risks.

For organizations interested in deploying airspace monitoring solutions or looking to mitigate drone-related risks, Advexure can help. Contact Advexure’s Enterprise Sales team for a tailored consultation on implementing a Remote ID detection system that fits your needs.

Whether it’s securing a single facility or an entire city’s airspace, we’re here to help.