While the experiment was short-lived, the controversy speaks to the growing problem in schools, particularly high schools, of rampant cellphone use during class time.
Jammers are also called signal blockers. They are devices that block radio communications signals. A pilot on the ground remote-controls an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Therefore, blocking the radio signal renders a UAV useless. The drone will either fall to the ground or land, depending on its programming.
Principal Steve Gray of Port Hardy Secondary School on Vancouver Island, who bought the cell phone jammer from an online dealer in China, said he had to try something given that kids were still using their phones despite a cellphone ban at the school.
Donnelly also points out that controlling the devices is important because they can be a mechanism for everything from cyber bullying to passing around answers to a test.
Once a threat is detected, the system sends an automatic command to the jamming unit and starts to block all radio communication channels, including GPS signals and video link.
NERO is the combat-proven Communications Electronic Attack Surveillance and Reconnaissance, known as CEASAR, jamming capability currently deployed on a C-12 aircraft. The only difference between the two systems is the NERO jamming pod is attached to the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial System.