Robotic technology takes flight to avoid bird collisions.

Birds and aeroplanes have been sharing the sky for more than a century, and while they have been able to coexist reasonably peacefully, when the two do collide, it results in bird mortality, aircraft damage, and, in some cases, aircraft engine failure. As a result, figuring out how to keep flocks of birds off of a plane's flight path might help save money, time, and even lives.

A team of academics from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the University of Tuscia, Roflight, Lemselobrink, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force has proposed a potential solution to this issue. The team created, manufactured, and tested a prototype robot in the shape of a peregrine falcon to repel birds near airports.

The remote-controlled bird, known as RobotFalcon, has a wingspan of slightly more than 27 inches, is built of fibreglass and polypropylene, and is driven by an internal motor. It also has a camera on its head, giving operators a first-person perspective while operating it.

Drones are currently being used to frighten birds away for this reason, sometimes broadcasting sounds of distressed birds to discourage flocks. RobotFalcon takes this concept to a new level by including the bird of prey's appearance and motions to create a more realistic menace. During a series of field testing, RobotFalcon frightened away whole flocks of birds within five minutes of arrival, and 50% of the locations were cleaned within 70 seconds. 

"We conclude that the RobotFalcon is a practical and ethical solution to drive away bird flocks with all advantages of live predators but without their limitations," the researchers stated. Some challenges persist, however, with the robotic bird only capable of flying in excellent weather and requiring professional pilots to operate.