The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has introduced a headless robot named Aurora, approximately the size of a labrador retriever, to be stationed at Fairbanks airport. The robot will be disguised as a coyote or fox and used to deter migratory birds and other wildlife from the area near the runway. Aurora will utilize predator-like movements to keep animals away from plane infields during the migratory bird season. The robot can change its appearance through replaceable panels, but will not utilize animal fur to ensure it remains waterproof.
The idea of using a robot as a wildlife deterrent came after rejecting a plan involving flying drones spraying repellent, including grape juice. Previous attempts at deterring wildlife near airports in Alaska have included releasing pigs near a lake near Anchorage airport in the 1990s in hopes they would eat waterfowl eggs near landing areas. Wildlife service teams in Alaska currently use loud sounds and paintball guns to scare birds and other animals away from runways. The potential danger of wildlife encounters near airports was highlighted by a 1995 incident in which an AWACS jet crashed, killing 24 people after hitting a flock of geese at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.
The robot, Aurora, is designed to patrol the outdoor area near the runway every hour to prevent harmful encounters between planes and wildlife. The Fairbanks airport will be used as a test site to determine the effectiveness of using a robot as a wildlife deterrent, including interactions with larger animals such as moose and bears. If successful, the agency may consider deploying similar robots to smaller airports in Alaska as a cost-effective alternative to human deterrence teams. The robot, which is controlled remotely and can navigate through various weather conditions, cost approximately $70,000 and was paid for with a federal grant.
Aurora’s capabilities include climbing rocks, going up stairs, and flashing green lights while making movements to imitate predator behavior. The robot is expected to act as a predator to invoke responses in wildlife without the need for other means of deterrence. The transportation department in Alaska aims to enhance safety and operations at the Fairbanks airport with the introduction of Aurora, stating that it is a step forward in wildlife mitigation efforts. The success of Aurora as a wildlife deterrent will be monitored during the migratory bird season, with plans to assess its effectiveness in warding off various types of local wildlife in the area near the runway.
The transportation department in Alaska believes that using Aurora is a progressive step in wildlife mitigation efforts and airport safety. The robot will be constantly monitored by a human handler and can be controlled remotely from a table, computer, or on an automated schedule. By investing in innovative technology like this headless robot, the agency hopes to prevent expensive and potentially dangerous encounters between wildlife and aircraft. With previous strategies proving ineffective or potentially harmful, Aurora offers a promising solution to wildlife management near airports and could set a precedent for similar technologies in the future. If successful, Aurora could be used as a model for other airports across the country to enhance safety and improve operational efficiency.
