Georgia Tech students develop drone detection technology

Through a university program designed to help startups, two Georgia Tech students are creating a defense technology company by building drone detection systems.

Tejas Balaji and Maxwell Hadaway founded Sokol Technologies, which is developing anti-drone technology and autonomous defense systems.

Their technology uses sound and cameras to detect drones that can evade traditional detection systems like radar.

Although they have the technology development side, Balaji said Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X program has helped them with the business side.

“That really helped us address the problems we faced just getting this off the ground,” Balaji said.

Margaret Weniger, the program’s director, said the program works to help students build the skills they need to be successful.

“For us, it’s really about investing in the person,” Weniger said. 

More than 700 students have created startups through CREATE-X, which have a combined value of more than $4.5 billion.