How can the DNS help identify drones remotely?

How did the DRIP project come about?

The topic arose through work within the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), where discussions were already underway on the use of the DNS for identifying drones.

I proposed the topic as part of the Télécom SudParis Cassiopée programme. Four students, including three engineering students and one Master’s student, spent six months working on the project with a dual objective of allowing them to participate in a real-world research project while contributing to work being carried out at an international level.

What does this project encompass?

Modern drones can broadcast a unique identifier that allows them to be recognised while in flight. This identifier is typically verified against a centralised database that links the drone to its owner or operator.

The idea behind the project is to explore a different approach, namely using the DNS (Domain Name System), the system that normally resolves domain names, to retrieve information associated with a drone. The advantage here is that the DNS is a distributed infrastructure. Instead of being stored in a single database, information is distributed across multiple organisations, making it easier to use at scale and internationally.

The students developed a proof of concept (POC) in the form of a prototype demonstrating that their approach is technically feasible. One of the students will present their work at the IETF hackathon, which will take place on 14–15 July 2026, to show that the solution can interoperate with other implementations developed by the international community.

Why is this project important for Afnic?

For Afnic, this project is an opportunity to explore a new way to use the DNS. It shows that the DNS infrastructure could also be used to publish and reliably resolve digital identities, such as drone identities.

The project also allows Afnic to contribute to the IETF’s standardisation work, strengthen its collaborations with the academic community and anticipate future uses for trust infrastructure. In the longer term, it could pave the way for new uses of the DNS for drones and other connected devices.