No-Fly Zone: Drone Hacking Workshop

4th Oct 10:00 to 13:30

Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours

Audience: Intermediate to advanced cybersecurity professionals, RF/IoT researchers, hardware hackers

Delivery Format: Hands-on workshop with 6 labs and a final takeaway build

Equipment: HackRF, Flipper Zero, DJI Mini 3 Pro , DJI Tello, RTL-SDR, ESP32, analog FPV video transmitter

Abstract

In recent conflicts, drones have redefined the battlefield from loitering munitions in Ukraine to autonomous surveillance swarms in Israel. This workshop dives into the underbelly of drone communication systems, exposing vulnerabilities in telemetry, control, and video feeds using tools like HackRF and Flipper Zero. Participants will work hands-on with real drone components and software-defined radios to intercept, analyze, and manipulate drone signals. They will walk away with a complete understanding of RF-based threats and a custom-built drone tracker as a takeaway project.

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1. Session 1: Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles — Overview of drone evolution and drones in warfare.

2. Session 2: Drone Architecture Deep Dive — Flight controller internals, telemetry, FPV, GPS and RF modules.

3. Lab 1: Intercepting Drone Telemetry — Intercepting telemetry and decoding.

4. Lab 2: Capturing Analog FPV Signals using GNURadio — Live HackRF demo plus pre-captured analog FPV IQ files for signal visualization.

5. Lab 3: Replay & Jam Demonstration — Using Flipper Zero or HackRF for signal replay/jamming.

6. Break — Snacks and networking.

7. Lab 4: Exploring MAVLink Telemetry — Capture and analyze MAVLink streams with Wireshark or Python.

8. Lab 5: Scripting a MAVLink Decoder — Write Python scripts to parse MAVLink packets and visualize drone position.

9. Lab 6: Build a Drone Tracker using HackRF and GNURadio — Use captured signals and GPS data to simulate a passive SDR-based drone tracker.

10. Wrap-Up & Q&A — Key takeaways, tools recap, and project suggestions.

Notes: Each lab builds on prior RF/digital skills. Pre-recorded SDR files ensure everyone can participate even with limited gear. HackRF / Flipper Zero tools are rotated among teams. Final lab repurposes captured data (SSID, MAC, RSSI) into a practical drone detection tool.

Final Takeaway Deliverables

• Drone tracker built with Python + HackRF

• Scripts for injection and spoofing

• SDR IQ samples and decoded telemetry streams

• Workshop slide deck (PDF)

• Certificate of Participation