This Startup’s Silent Drone Detection Tech Just Crushed a $100K Security Challenge

Zing’s RF-Powered System Spots Rogue Drones Without Alerting Operators—And It’s Coming for Prisons First

In a field crowded with flashy counter-drone tech, Zing Drone Solutions just pulled off a quiet coup. The Oregon-based company’s passive detection system, Z-SCAN, swept the Proven in Pendleton Counter UAS Challenge this week—outmaneuvering 30 competitors to claim the $100,000 grand prize. The event, hosted by the Oregon UAS Accelerator, tasked entrants with protecting secure facilities from aerial intruders. Judges included security heavyweights like Tom Perkowski and Anduril’s Paul Allen.

“Most systems scream into the radio spectrum to find drones. Ours just listens.”

Z-SCAN’s winning edge? It never broadcasts a signal. While competitors relied on active jamming or radar sweeps, Zing’s system uses directional antennas and machine learning to detect drone operators’ faint radio frequency signatures. This passive approach means it works in rain, fog, or snow without tipping off bad actors. “Think of it as electronic eavesdropping with AI-enhanced hearing,” says one industry insider familiar with the tech.

The $72 Million Prison Problem

Zing isn’t chasing military contracts—yet. Their first targets are the 1,500+ U.S. correctional facilities where drones increasingly smuggle contraband. It’s a $72 million annual market ripe for disruption; current solutions often fail in adverse weather or trigger false alarms. Field tests at Pendleton proved Z-SCAN could pinpoint both drones and their pilots in real time, a critical feature for prison staff needing to intercept operators.

But prisons are just the beachhead. Company filings reveal plans to adapt the tech for airports, stadiums, and power plants—all vulnerable to drone incursions. “The architecture scales vertically,” notes a Zing engineer. “Same core tech, different deployment packages.”

A Pacific Northwest Launchpad

Founded in 2018, Zing is taking a regional approach to expansion. Commercial rollout begins in the Pacific Northwest this quarter, leveraging local partnerships before tackling national markets. It’s a deliberate strategy: “They’re stress-testing the system with hometown clients who’ll give brutally honest feedback,” observes Keith Brendley, one of the challenge judges.

For now, the team is capitalizing on their Pendleton momentum. That six-figure prize? Already earmarked for hiring signal processing experts and refining their machine learning models. In the silent war against rogue drones, Zing just proved stealth beats shouting.