The Deep Sweep (2015) High-altitude Signal Research
From the introduction:
The Deep Sweep is an aerospace probe scanning the otherwise out-of-reach signal space between land and stratosphere, with special interest placed in UAV/drone to satellite communication.
Taking the form of a high-altitude weather balloon, tiny embedded computer and RF equipment, The Deep Sweep project is being developed to function as a low-cost, aerial signal-intelligence (SIGINT) platform. Intended for assembly and deployment by public, it enables surveying and studying the vast and often secretive world of signal in our skies.
Two launches have been performed so far, from sites in Germany, landing in Poland and Belarus respectively.
We intend to make many more, in Europe and beyond.
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What a cool homebrew project!
Warning: There are legitimate concerns for air safety when performing this type of research. Governments that engage in questionable practices with UAV/drone hardware are unlikely to welcome detection of their nefarious activities.
I liked the notion of bugs (surveillance devices) that “bite” upon discovery in Marooned in Realtime. Depending upon your appetite for risk, you may want to consider such measures in a hostile environment.
The biggest risk of the narrated approach is that you have to physically recover the probe. All sorts of things could go sideways depending on your operating environment.
Still, a good read and quite instructive on what has been done.
Future improvements could include capturing data, injecting data, taking control UAV/drone vehicles that are not yours, just to name a few.
Up to you to create what comes next.