Skip to main content

This shoulder-mounted, net-firing bazooka can down a rogue drone at 100 meters

Along with severe turbulence, birds in the engine, inebriated passengers, dolts with laser pens, bomb-carrying terrorists, and missiles from war zones, pilots now have the additional worry of a quadcopter getting sucked into the engine of their aircraft, the consequences of which you really don’t want to imagine.

The challenge of ensuring restricted airspace is kept clear of the increasingly popular remotely controlled flying machine has seen a string of firms offer up a wide range of high-tech gear that includes everything from anti-drone death rays to electromagnetic defense shields.

Recommended Videos

However, plain old-fashioned nets appear to provide the basis for many of the proposed solutions, the targeted copters rendered inoperable the moment their spinning blades become snagged in the net’s web of crossed threads.  The latest creation along these lines is a net-launching bazooka called the SkyWall 100.

Created by a team of UK-based engineers, the shooter is as awesome as it sounds, and may have its operator actually hoping for a stray drone to fly by just so they can get to use it.

Weighing 22 pounds, the shoulder-mounted cannon uses compressed air to fire a net at a rogue drone up to 100 meters away. Once it’s nabbed the machine, the system deploys a parachute to bring it safely back to terra firma in one piece, important if law enforcement needs to conduct a forensic examination of the device or locate a serial number to identify the owner.

The SkyWall 100, designed by Open Works Engineering, incorporates a “smart scope” display that uses predictive algorithms enabling the operator to more easily engage with the target, whether it’s hovering in one spot or moving at speed. Also, the highly mobile system can be quickly reloaded so the shooter can, if necessary, deal with multiple drone threats.

Cops in Japan were one of the early adopters of this somewhat low-tech solution, last year unveiling a large net-carrying multi-rotor flying machine that chases after suspicious drones before ensnaring it and returning with it to base.

More impressive is a modified octocopter from students at Michigan Tech University which, similar to the SkyWall 100, shoots a net at the target drone. The net is tethered to the octocopter, enabling it to fly its catch back to the operator.

As for the SkyWall 100, we don’t yet have any details on how much the contraption will cost, but the company aims to have it on the market by the end of the year. Rogue drones, beware.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more