RPAS Forensic Validation Analysis Towards a Technical Investigation Process: A Case Study of Yuneec Typhoon H

Area of Science:

• Digital Forensics
• Cybersecurity
• Aerospace Technology

Background:

• Rapid advancements in Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), including drones, present new societal challenges and security threats.
• Increased use of drones for illicit activities like privacy invasion, smuggling, and terrorism necessitates robust forensic investigation methods.
• Existing digital forensic processes need adaptation to address the unique challenges posed by aerial-related incidents and drone misuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a standardized, ten-phase technical forensic process for the analysis of RPAS forensic artifacts.
• To enhance the identification and investigation of drones used in criminal activities or involved in incidents.
• To explore the availability and value of digital evidence for practical drone investigations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel ten-phase technical process for RPAS forensic artifact analysis.
• Application of the proposed process to analyze drone images from the Computer Forensics Reference Datasets (CFReDS).
• Case study analysis focusing on the Typhoon H aerial vehicle by Yuneec, Inc.

Main Results:

• The proposed ten-phase process effectively reduces the complexity of identifying and investigating drone-related forensic evidence.
• Analysis using CFReDS demonstrates the practical application of the forensic process.
• The study highlights the significance of digital evidence in building evidence-based drone investigations.

Conclusions:

• A structured technical process is crucial for effectively investigating RPAS-related incidents and threats.
• The developed ten-phase method provides a foundation for a more practical and comprehensive digital investigation of drones.
• Further research and application of this process can strengthen defenses against malicious drone operations.