DUMBO (Detection Using Microphone Beamforming Operations) is an advanced acoustic drone detection system that leverages proprietary signal processing to detect, track and classify drones across diverse operational environments.
Affordable, compact, reliable, and field-proven -
DUMBO is built around a modular unit that supports every deployment scenario.
the challenges
The Growing Complexity of Drone Threat Detection
Close the
detection gap
Drone detection is challenged by the sheer diversity of aerial threats and the complexity of the environments they exploit - beyond visual line of sight, in RF-silent operation, and in complex, cluttered environments.
These are exactly the conditions DUMBO is built for. Where other sensors fall short, acoustic detection thrives.
Low-cost problem demands
a low-cost solution
One of the biggest challenges in drone detection is cost. Drone threats are low-cost, yet most existing systems are too expensive to deploy at the scale that real protection demands.
DUMBO changes the equation by delivering an affordable acoustic sensing layer that makes it practical to protect bases, borders, airports, and other critical sites.
DUMBO
A New Standard in Acoustic Drone Detection
Power Up Your C-UAS Stack
Detect RF-silent UAS, including tethered profiles
Dramatically reduce false alarms
by integrating an independent modality
No emissions. No RF interference
Early warning and directional cueing
Detect Beyond VLOS
why Dumbo
Exceptional cost-to-capability
Low SWaP (Size, Weight and Power)
Modular: from point defense
to wide area coverage
Seamless integration with other sensors
The DUMBO Advantages
01
Standardized Acoustic Hardware
Each DUMBO unit is built around a 50-microphone board with a 120° field of view in both azimuth and elevation.
02
Software-Defined
performance
DUMBO's hardware captures sound. The software turns it into intelligence. Advanced beamforming, detection, tracking, and classification algorithms transform a compact acoustic device into a high-performance acoustic radar.
03
Continuous
Improvement
Deployment runs on identical hardware, and every software update reaches the entire installed base simultaneously. As our software advances through continuous development and insight from real-world acoustic operations, every customer benefits at once.
How DUMBO Works
01. Acoustic Capture
Microphone arrays continuously monitor and capture the full acoustic environment within the system’s field of view.
02. Localization
Advanced signal processing algorithms form hundreds of beams to estimate the direction of arrival of sound sources with precise azimuth and elevation. In multi-sensor deployments, detections from multiple units are combined to estimate target position and range.
03. signal Processing
Each detected target is tracked and classified down to the drone-type level. Advanced tracking and classification algorithms reduce false alarms and improve detection confidence.
04. Alert & Direction Output
Real-time alerts and all target information are delivered directly to the customer’s C2 system.
01. Acoustic Capture
Microphone arrays continuously monitor and capture the full acoustic environment within the system’s field of view.
02. Localization
Advanced signal processing algorithms form hundreds of beams to estimate the direction of arrival of sound sources with precise azimuth and elevation. In multi-sensor deployments, detections from multiple units are combined to estimate target position and range.
03. signal Processing
Each detected target is tracked and classified down to the drone-type level. Advanced tracking and classification algorithms reduce false alarms and improve detection confidence.
04. Alert & Direction Output
Real-time alerts and all target information are delivered directly to the customer’s C2 system.
Deployment Scenarios
Designed for Defense Applications
Military operations require drone detection that does not expose the force, can be deployed quickly, and delivers reliable coverage.
DUMBO provides passive acoustic detection with no emissions, helping tactical units detect threats without revealing their position. Its compact, low-SWaP architecture enables fast installation and straight forward use across fixed, mobile, and field deployments.
As an independent sensing modality, DUMBO helps dramatically reduce false alarms and close critical detection gaps that defense forces cannot afford. It also supports detection beyond visual line of sight, improving awareness against low-signature and tethered drone threats in complex environments.
Critical infrastructure sites need drone detection that is affordable, non-disruptive, and easy to adapt to different facility layouts.
DUMBO provides a passive acoustic sensing layer that avoids interference with surrounding systems and eliminates many of the operational constraints and permissions required for radar. Its modular design makes it easy to scale across different deployment scenarios, while its acoustic detection capabilities support reliable performance in cluttered environments with dense buildings and heavy RF activity.
This gives operators a practical way to strengthen site protection without relying on complex and expensive solutions.
Examples include prisons and correctional facilities, data centers, ports and maritime terminals, power plants and substations, water and wastewater treatment facilities, telecom hubs, fuel and energy sites, government compounds, and major logistics or distribution centers.
Airports and controlled airspace face a uniquely sensitive drone threat: even a small UAV near a runway, approach path, or restricted zone can disrupt operations and create immediate safety and operational consequences. These environments require detection that is reliable, low-interference, and highly selective, because false alarms and sensor emissions can create their own burden.
DUMBO adds a passive acoustic sensing layer that detects low-altitude and low-signature drones without interfering with surrounding systems, while its independent modality and advanced classification help improve confidence in every alert.
Urban environments are difficult for drone detection because buildings block lines of sight, background noise is constant, and the RF environment is often dense and saturated. Small drones can move between structures, appear briefly, and blend into complex surroundings that challenge traditional sensors.
DUMBO helps address these conditions with passive acoustic sensing, precise directional localization, and advanced tracking and classification, giving operators a stronger ability to detect and understand drone activity in cluttered city environments.
Border security operations must monitor long stretches of remote and difficult terrain, where drones can be used for smuggling and other cross-border activity. Border agencies increasingly treat drones as a real operational challenge, especially in environments shaped by rugged terrain, foliage, and changing conditions.
DUMBO adds a passive acoustic sensing layer that can be deployed quickly in fixed or mobile configurations, helping detect BVLOS and RF-silent drones without emissions, interference, or heavy infrastructure. Its modular architecture supports scalable coverage across varied terrain, while its independent modality helps reduce false alarms and strengthen operational confidence.
Book a Demo
Today
See DUMBO in action and discuss deployment with our acoustic experts.