Live data from Hacker News

Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

news.sky.com

1–10 of 50 posts

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#2
Do scarecrows not work anymore? I find it difficult to believe that this is the most cost efficient-way to address the issue. I thought it was at least going to target the birds with high-powered speakers calibrated towards the birds hearing (which again might be easier to deploy in turret form), but this just seems like a joke or a parody of "tech investment" or something.

Granted, this does appear to be the test phase, but I'd hope there be some evidence this might work before they spend money on it.

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#3
Seems like a pretty good use case for an automated robot like this. It's nice to see a practical use-case for these advanced autonomous robots that doesn't involve war.

So as I see it, this is like a fancy all-terrain Roomba. They dress it up like a Fox or Coyote and it wanders around and patrols the airport grounds, scaring away birds and generally preventing them from nesting in the area. Birds aren't going to nest in areas with active predators. So if this looks like an active predator making constant patrols, then birds will just go somewhere else to roost.

Ultimately it saves the birds from being killed by planes or euthanized by other means. They are not harmed with this patrolling robo-fox, it just adds intimidation factor.

Presumably, the robot will also be smarter than a Roomba and would know to avoid running onto the runway or other critical areas.

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#5

Do scarecrows not work anymore? I find it difficult to believe that this is the most cost efficient-way to address the issue. I thought it was at least going to target the birds with high-powered speakers calibrated towards the birds hearing (which again might be easier to deploy in turret form), but this just seems like a joke or a parody of "tech investment" or something. Granted, this does appear to be the test ph…

I'm just thinking aloud here. Scarecrows might make the pilots freak out too. This thing has to not look like something that doesn't belong near a runway.

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#6

Do scarecrows not work anymore? I find it difficult to believe that this is the most cost efficient-way to address the issue. I thought it was at least going to target the birds with high-powered speakers calibrated towards the birds hearing (which again might be easier to deploy in turret form), but this just seems like a joke or a parody of "tech investment" or something. Granted, this does appear to be the test ph…

Did scarecrows ever work?

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#8

Do scarecrows not work anymore? I find it difficult to believe that this is the most cost efficient-way to address the issue. I thought it was at least going to target the birds with high-powered speakers calibrated towards the birds hearing (which again might be easier to deploy in turret form), but this just seems like a joke or a parody of "tech investment" or something. Granted, this does appear to be the test ph…

Anyone who has a garden knows scarecrows don't work (more than a couple of days anyway).

Birds are surprisingly smart and they lean very quickly.

Re: Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes

#9

Do scarecrows not work anymore? I find it difficult to believe that this is the most cost efficient-way to address the issue. I thought it was at least going to target the birds with high-powered speakers calibrated towards the birds hearing (which again might be easier to deploy in turret form), but this just seems like a joke or a parody of "tech investment" or something. Granted, this does appear to be the test ph…

I agree, seems like overkill especially if you need a person to manage the "dogs". Instead I'd create a track around the airport and have a "dog" like train that just travels along the track autonomously. You could randomize pattern and dog movements so the birds don't get suspicious.
Post reply on HN