News
Listening for the right radio signals could be an effective way to track small drones
Unidentified drone sightings near sensitive U.S. locations raise public concern. Challenges exist in tracking these drones, necessitating better detection methods and potential regulatory changes for airspace management.
Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder
The recent spate of unidentified drone sightings in the U.S., including some near sensitive locations such as airports and military installations, has caused significant public concern.
Some of this recent increase in activity may be related to a September 2023 change in U.S. Federal Aviation Administration regulations that now allow drone operators to fly at night. But most of the sightings are likely airplanes or helicopters rather than drones.
The inability of the U.S. government to definitively identify the aircraft in the recent incidents, however, has some people wondering, why can’t they?
I am an engineer who studies defense systems. I see radio frequency sensors as a promising approach to detecting, tracking and identifying drones, not least because drone detectors based on the technology are already available. But I also see challenges to using the detectors to comprehensively spot drones flying over American communities.
How drones are controlled
Operators communicate with drones from a distance using radio frequency signals. Radio frequency signals are widely used in everyday life such as in garage door openers, car key fobs and, of course, radios. Because the radio spectrum is used for so many different purposes, it is carefully regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.
Drone communications are only allowed in narrow bands around specific frequencies such as at 5 gigahertz. Each make and model of a drone uses unique communication protocols coded within the radio frequency signals to interpret instructions from an operator and to send data back to them. In this way, a drone pilot can instruct the drone to execute a flight maneuver, and the drone can inform the pilot where it is and how fast it is flying.
Identifying drones by radio signals
Radio frequency sensors can listen in to the well-known drone frequencies to detect communication protocols that are specific to each particular drone model. In a sense, these radio frequency signals represent a unique fingerprint of each type of drone.
In the best-case scenario, authorities can use the radio frequency signals to determine the drone’s location, range, speed and flight direction. These radio frequency devices are called passive sensors because they simply listen out for and receive signals without taking any active steps. The typical range limit for detecting signals is about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the source.
These sensors do not represent advanced technology, and they are readily available. So, why haven’t authorities made wider use of them? https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yFzdpEqQCs?wmode=transparent&start=0 Drones were all the buzz in the Northeast at the end of 2024.
Challenges to using radio frequency sensors
While the monitoring of radio frequency signals is a promising approach to detecting and identifying drones, there are several challenges to doing so.
First, it’s only possible for a sensor to obtain detailed information on drones that the sensor knows the communication protocols for. Getting sensors that can detect a wide range of drones will require coordination between all drone manufacturers and some central registration entity.
In the absence of information that makes it possible to decode the radio frequency signals, all that can be inferred about a drone is a rough idea of its location and direction. This situation can be improved by deploying multiple sensors and coordinating their information.
Second, the detection approach works best in “quiet” radio frequency environments where there are no buildings, machinery or people. It’s not easy to confidently attribute the unique source of a radio frequency signal in urban settings and other cluttered environments. Radio frequency signals bounce off all solid surfaces, making it difficult to be sure where the original signal came from. Again, the use of multiple sensors around a particular location, and careful placement of those sensors, can help to alleviate this issue.
Third, a major part of the concern over the inability to detect and identify drones is that they may be operated by criminals or terrorists. If drone operators with malicious intent know that an area targeted for a drone operation is being monitored by radio frequency sensors, they may develop effective countermeasures. For example, they may use signal frequencies that lie outside the FCC-regulated parameters, and communication protocols that have not been registered. An even more effective countermeasure is to preprogram the flight path of a drone to completely avoid the use of any radio frequency communications between the operator and the drone.
Finally, widespread deployment of radio frequency sensors for tracking drones would be logistically complicated and financially expensive. There are likely thousands of locations in the U.S. alone that might require protection from hostile drone attacks. The cost of deploying a fully effective drone detection system would be significant.
There are other means of detecting drones, including radar systems and networks of acoustic sensors, which listen for the unique sounds drones generate. But radar systems are relatively expensive, and acoustic drone detection is a new technology.
The way forward
It was almost guaranteed that at some point the problem of unidentified drones would arise. People are operating drones more and more in regions of the airspace that have previously been very sparsely populated.
Perhaps the recent concerns over drone sightings are a wake-up call. The airspace is only going to become much more congested in the coming years as more consumers buy drones, drones are used for more commercial purposes, and air-taxis come into use. There’s only so much that drone detection technologies can do, and it might become necessary for the FAA to tighten regulation of the nation’s airspace by, for example, requiring drone operators to submit detailed flight plans.
In the meantime, don’t be too quick to assume those blinking lights you see in the night sky are drones.
Iain Boyd, Director of the Center for National Security Initiatives and Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Business and Finance
Handshake Launches Free AI Skills Studio to Help Job Seekers Prepare for an AI-Driven Workplace
Handshake has launched AI Skills Studio, a free project-based learning hub designed to help students and job seekers develop practical AI skills and demonstrate what they can do to prospective employers.
As artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of everyday work, knowing how to actually use AI tools may become just as important as knowing what they can do.
Career platform Handshake is betting on that shift with the launch of AI Skills Studio, a free learning hub designed to give students and job seekers practical experience using AI through short, hands-on projects.
Handshake’s AI Skills Studio aims to help job seekers build practical, hands-on AI experience as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important across the workplace. Image: Rod Washington and Firefly.
Announced September 22, AI Skills Studio offers project-based learning “missions” that generally take between 10 and 45 minutes to complete. Instead of focusing primarily on lectures or traditional coursework, participants work directly with AI and technology tools to create something tangible.
Projects can include automated workflows, software, interactive games, data dashboards, portfolios, and tools aimed at preparing users for jobs in areas such as sales and marketing.
The program was developed with a broad group of technology companies and educational partners, including Clay, Figma, Gamma, Google, Lovable, Notion, OpenAI, Replit, Salesforce, Southern New Hampshire University and Vercel.
Turning AI knowledge into something employers can see
One of the more notable aspects of AI Skills Studio is its emphasis on demonstrating skills rather than simply listing them on a résumé.
After completing a mission, learners can add their projects to their Handshake profiles and potentially feature them in the platform’s AI Showcase. Participants also receive verified skill badges intended to provide employers with evidence that they have applied particular AI skills.
That approach reflects a growing challenge for both applicants and businesses: simply saying someone is familiar with artificial intelligence doesn’t necessarily show an employer what that person can accomplish with it.
“Employers know they need people who can work effectively with AI, but a résumé can’t tell you what someone is truly capable of,” Handshake Chief Operating Officer Jon Stull said in announcing the program.
For job seekers, that could make small AI projects increasingly useful as part of a professional portfolio, particularly for people entering the workforce without years of experience.
Students see AI skills becoming increasingly important
Handshake says its own research indicates that many students recognize the importance of AI but don’t necessarily believe their education has kept pace.
According to the company’s 2026 Network Trends Report, 58% of graduating seniors surveyed said they would need a stronger understanding of AI to succeed in the workplace. Only 28%, however, said AI had been meaningfully integrated into their educational programs.
Those figures come from Handshake’s own research, but they highlight a broader issue confronting workers, schools and businesses as generative AI moves rapidly into professional environments.
Julia Stiglitz, Handshake’s Chief Education and Workforce Officer, said people shouldn’t necessarily wait for the technology—or the workplace—to stop changing before beginning to develop AI skills.
“The best thing people can do is start learning and start building,” Stiglitz said.
Learning with tools used in the workplace
Rather than teaching AI only as a theoretical subject, the Studio is designed around tools people could encounter professionally.
OpenAI, for example, is participating with projects involving ChatGPT and Codex. Google is contributing training involving its AI tools and workflows, while other partners bring experience in areas ranging from software development and design to productivity and enterprise technology.
An AI Skills Instructor provides learners with guidance and feedback while they complete projects.
Handshake says connecting those projects directly to a career profile could also give employers another way to evaluate applicants—allowing recruiters to look at what candidates have actually built instead of relying entirely on degrees, résumés or self-reported skills.
AI could change what “experience” means
The development is especially interesting for students, career changers and early-career workers.
Traditionally, gaining experience has often created a familiar problem: employers want applicants with experience, while applicants need employment opportunities to acquire that experience.
Project-based AI training doesn’t eliminate that problem, and completing a short AI exercise isn’t the same as performing a job professionally. But projects can provide another way for someone to demonstrate curiosity, technical familiarity and the ability to apply new tools to a specific task.
As AI becomes embedded in more occupations, portfolios demonstrating how someone uses the technology could become an increasingly useful complement to conventional credentials.
That doesn’t mean everyone needs to become an AI engineer. The more immediate workplace skill may simply be understanding how to use AI effectively within an existing profession—whether that’s marketing, design, software development, sales, research or business operations.
Handshake’s new program is another indication that career preparation is beginning to adjust to that reality.
AI Skills Studio is available free through Handshake’s website and mobile app.
Source: Handshake press release, September 22, 2026. Statistics regarding graduating seniors and AI education are attributed to Handshake’s 2026 Network Trends Report.
Source and Related Links
Handshake — Introducing AI Skills Studio: AI Skills Studio launch and overview — Details the program, project-based missions, participating partners and how completed projects can be displayed to employers.
Handshake — What is AI Skills Studio?: AI Skills Studio Help Center — Official information on how the program works, eligibility, missions and access.
Handshake — Class of 2026 Graduation Report: AI and the Workforce Ahead — Supports the article’s statistics that 58% of graduating seniors say they need stronger AI skills while only 28% say AI has been meaningfully integrated into their academic program. Handshake
Handshake — Workforce Outlook: Class of 2026 in the AI Economy — Additional research on AI adoption, employer demand and attitudes toward AI among graduating students.
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Transportation
LAX SkyLink Delayed Again, With Passenger Service Now Targeted for January 2027
LAX SkyLink has been delayed again. The long-awaited airport train is now targeting passenger service in January 2027 as final testing and certification continue.
The long-awaited airport train is nearly complete, but additional testing and certification have pushed its anticipated debut beyond 2026.
LOS ANGELES — Travelers waiting for Los Angeles International Airport’s long-delayed SkyLink train will apparently have to wait a little longer.
The automated train system, previously expected to begin carrying passengers as early as October 2026, is now being targeted for early January 2027, according to new project disclosures.
LAX Integrated Express Solutions, or LINXS, the consortium responsible for the project, indicated in a September 16 disclosure that passenger service could begin around January 6, 2027, if remaining work proceeds successfully. However, LINXS also cautioned that additional delays remain possible.
Importantly, January 6 is not an official opening date announced by Los Angeles World Airports.
LAWA’s official SkyLink website currently says only that the system is in its “final testing and certification phase”and that opening information will be announced when available.
What Happened to the October Opening?
As STM Daily News previously reported, the project had been moving toward a possible October 2026 passenger-service launch.
That timetable has now slipped.
According to the latest project information, SkyLink still must successfully complete several important requirements before passengers can board.
Those include 30 consecutive days of successful testing, an independent review, an assessment by LAWA and completion of a utility agreement involving the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
The project’s contractual completion deadline currently stands at December 8, 2026, but LINXS has indicated that additional time may be necessary.
That puts the tentative January 6 passenger-service target roughly one month beyond the current contractual completion deadline.
Those Trains You See Are Still Test Trains
For passengers traveling through LAX, the delay might seem particularly puzzling because SkyLink trains can already be seen moving around the airport.
Those trains aren’t carrying passengers.
LAX says the vehicles are operating throughout the system as part of testing required before passenger service can begin.
The airport’s official SkyLink page specifically warns travelers that any trains currently moving are part of testing and are not in service.
The project is reportedly about 99% complete, meaning the primary infrastructure is essentially in place while testing, certification and remaining agreements continue.
Another Delay in a Long-Running Project
Construction on the 2.25-mile automated train system began in 2019, and passenger service was originally expected to begin in 2023.
That opening has repeatedly slipped as the approximately $3.3 billion project encountered construction issues, technical challenges and disputes between LAWA and LINXS.
The relationship between the two sides has also become increasingly contentious.
LINXS sued the City of Los Angeles earlier this year, alleging that actions by LAWA contributed to delays and additional costs. LAWA has said completing a safe and reliable SkyLink remains its priority.
The financial stakes are also increasing. Bondholders recently agreed to consolidate an earlier October deadline into the December 8 project deadline, giving the consortium additional time to complete the remaining work.
Why SkyLink Still Matters
Despite the delays, SkyLink remains one of the most consequential pieces of LAX’s massive modernization program.
The free, all-electric automated train will operate along a 2.25-mile elevated guideway with six stations.
Three stations will serve the airport’s Central Terminal Area, while others will connect passengers with parking, rental cars, ground transportation and the LAX/Metro Transit Center.
That last connection is especially significant.
The Transit Center provides access to Metro’s C and K Lines. Until SkyLink opens, however, passengers using Metro must continue transferring to shuttle buses to reach the airport terminals.
Once operational, SkyLink is designed to eliminate that final shuttle connection.
LAX says the train will operate 24 hours a day, with trains approximately every two minutes during peak periods. The trip from one end of the system to the other is expected to take about 10 minutes, and passengers won’t need a ticket, fare or app to ride.
Could SkyLink Be Running Before the Super Bowl?
The January target carries added significance because Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium.
If SkyLink begins passenger operations around January 6, the system would have just over a month of regular service before another major international influx of visitors arrives in Los Angeles.
But after several missed opening targets, January 6 should be viewed as just that — a target.
LINXS itself has warned that there is no assurance passenger service won’t be delayed further.
LAWA, meanwhile, says it will not compromise the testing necessary to ensure the automated system operates safely and reliably.
The Finish Line Moves Again
For LAX travelers, SkyLink has become a familiar sight: sleek automated trains moving above airport traffic but carrying nobody.
The latest delay doesn’t change the project’s ultimate purpose. When SkyLink finally opens, travelers will have a direct connection between LAX terminals, Metro rail, rental cars, parking and other ground transportation without relying on many of the shuttle buses currently circulating through the airport.
But the project’s history also offers a reason for caution.
October 2026 is effectively off the table. January 6, 2027 is now the contractor’s target. And LAWA has yet to announce an official opening date.
After a project originally expected to welcome passengers in 2023, perhaps the most important milestone will be the simplest one:
The day LAX finally removes the word “testing” from those trains.
STM Daily News will continue following the LAX SkyLink project and will provide an update when Los Angeles World Airports announces an official passenger-service date.
Source & Further Information
For current official information, visit the LAX SkyLink project page.
For more updates, subscribe to our newsletter STM Morning Brief!
5 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Community
(Feature Impact) Communities are strengthened every day by local organizations working to address challenges close to home, whether that’s helping families access food, supporting students, expanding opportunity or providing essential resources to those who need them most. Often operating with limited resources, these organizations are finding practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in neighborhoods and communities across the country.
Many of these efforts happen quietly, powered by people who volunteer their time, share their expertise, donate resources or simply help spread awareness of causes they care about.
For individuals looking to make a difference where they live, community involvement doesn’t have to start with a large commitment. Consider these five options to get involved.
Give Your Time
Giving your time is one of the most direct ways to support organizations serving your community. Whether it’s packing meals, mentoring young people or participating in neighborhood cleanups, volunteering allows people to contribute directly while gaining a deeper understanding of local needs.
Share Your Skills
Nonprofits often need specialized skills in addition to hands-on volunteer support. Communications support, technology expertise, event planning, photography, financial guidance and other professional skills can help organizations expand their reach and strengthen their operations. Contributing the skills you’ve developed can often be just as valuable as donating time or resources.
Tap Into Your Workplace
Many employers offer opportunities to support causes that matter to their employees, such as volunteer programs, community grants or other charitable opportunities.
In communities across the country, local nonprofits can receive support through programs like the PepsiCo Foundation’s Community Impact Awards, where employees can nominate nonprofit organizations in their local communities for grant funding. Since 2022, the program has invested more than $3.7 million into organizations working on issues ranging from food access to education and community development.
“Across North America, there are organizations showing up every day for their communities, often without recognition and with limited resources,” said Monica Bauer, SVP of social impact, PepsiCo and president of the PepsiCo Foundation. “The Community Impact Awards help shine a light on organizations that are creating opportunities, solving local challenges and making a real difference in people’s lives. What makes this program special is that the recognition comes from PepsiCo associates who know these organizations firsthand and have seen their impact up close.”
This year, 100 organizations across the U.S. and Canada received $500,000 total in grants and teamed up with their respective nominating employees for volunteer activities supporting their missions, giving employees another opportunity to engage directly.
Give What You Can
Financial contributions are a valuable way to give back, but they aren’t the only option. Many organizations need non-monetary donations such as school supplies, canned goods, clothing, toys and technology. Before collecting items, check with organizations to learn what is most needed and how contributions can make the greatest impact.
Use Your Voice
One person can make a difference. When that person gets a friend or family member involved, more people can discover and support organizations doing important work. Sharing a nonprofit’s mission on social media, inviting others to volunteer or connecting people with causes you care about can help organizations reach new supporters and expand their impact.
Making a difference doesn’t require doing everything at once. Whether you contribute your time, skills, resources or advocacy, small actions can help make a big impact over time.
Across the U.S., nonprofit organizations are helping improve lives, create opportunities and respond to community needs every day. Their work is a reminder that meaningful change often starts locally with people willing to get involved.
Learn more about how individuals and organizations can help address some of the most pressing needs in their communities by visiting PepsiCo.com/about/social-impact.
SOURCE:
PepsiCo
