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

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

#12
post #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…

Betcha it won’t take long for the birds to realize the robot is no threat.

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

#13
post #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…

Betcha it won’t take long for the birds to realize the robot is no threat.

They, and the deer, will tend to be in the runway area to avoid the “dog”, which will stay off the runways.

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

#14
post #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…

Betcha it won’t take long for the birds to realize the robot is no threat.

It doesn't take very much to permanently scare a bird away from a nest they're in the process of building. They're much more sensitive to threats when establishing a nest.

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

#16
post #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…

okay but why not, just, use dogs or coyotes

not joking. Dogs can be trained. Coyotes… just set up some feeding pens full of carrion at either side of the airport, and set up some doors that open at intervals (there, scratched that robot itch).

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

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Betcha it won’t take long for the birds to realize the robot is no threat.

It doesn't take very much to permanently scare a bird away from a nest they're in the process of building. They're much more sensitive to threats when establishing a nest.

Depends on the species. Ever met pigeons?

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

#18
post #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…

okay but why not, just, use dogs or coyotes not joking. Dogs can be trained. Coyotes… just set up some feeding pens full of carrion at either side of the airport, and set up some doors that open at intervals (there, scratched that robot itch).

It is very expensive to train a dog and maintain its training. Like $50k starting price and $20k every year after.

Dogs are incredibly stupid, they like to step in front of moving vehicles. Very bad for airport runways...

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

#19
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't take very much to permanently scare a bird away from a nest they're in the process of building. They're much more sensitive to threats when establishing a nest.

Depends on the species. Ever met pigeons?

I was actually thinking of pigeons/doves when I wrote that. Every year I get several nests around my property and if I get too close before there are chicks, the pigeons abandon the nest.

I have to carefully track them to figure out which nests belong to mockingbirds and which ones belong to pigeons so I can chase the former away and let the latter do their thing.

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

#20
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the species. Ever met pigeons?

I was actually thinking of pigeons/doves when I wrote that. Every year I get several nests around my property and if I get too close before there are chicks, the pigeons abandon the nest. I have to carefully track them to figure out which nests belong to mockingbirds and which ones belong to pigeons so I can chase the former away and let the latter do their thing.

Mine were happily doing their thing even while I started the same balcony. Eventually I started sterilizing their eggs by cooking and placing them back (they do leave for a few minutes when actively shooing) and after a few failed clutches they are noticeably less eager to try again in that place.
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