Alaska Airport's Use of Robot to Ward off Wildlife
Alaska's second largest airport is using a headless robot named Aurora, disguised as a coyote or fox, to ward off migratory birds and other wildlife to enhance safety and operations.
Key Points
- Aurora, the robot, will imitate predator-like movements to keep wildlife away from plane infields
- Previous deterrent efforts included using pigs and loud sounds to scare birds away from runways
- Encounters between wildlife and planes can be expensive and dangerous
Pros
- Enhances safety by preventing harmful encounters between planes and wildlife
- Cost-effective solution compared to hiring human deterrent teams
- Can be controlled remotely and navigate through various weather conditions
Cons
- Effectiveness of the robot as a deterrent is yet to be fully tested
- Encounters with larger animals like moose and bears need further evaluation