Birds may cause many troubles around every airport, no matter civilian or military. Because of this, the Korean Atomic Energy Group and LIG Nex1 (an aerospace and defense subsidiary of LG Corp) have developed the world’s first bird strike defense robot. It is a six-wheeled unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that uses directional acoustics and laser patterns to repel birds away.
The UGV is managed by a human operator from a control station. The robot can return to specific location autonomously in case of emergency (if the station becomes incapacitated), and avoid obstacles without guidance too. One station can control up to four UGVs.It is nearly2.5 meters long (8ft) long and 1.2 tons heavy. It has “armament” of acoustic transmission and detection devices, green laser transmission, day and night color cameras, thermal imaging and laser scanners, which makes it capable of day and night performance, in any weather conditions.
Channel A, a South Korean TV, described the sounds emitted by the UGV as a series of loud pops (100 dB) and another 13 sounds, including sounds of predators that birds avoid. The cameras can “catch” a 30 cm bird from a distance of 300 meters, and at night green laser patterns that can travel up to 2 km (1.2 miles) are used to frighten them away.
The project was announced in 2009, and in late 2011 the first field trials were held at a South Korean military air base. Now the system operates in multiple airfields, with the purpose to prove its capabilities to international buyers. The technology developed for this UGV may also be used on landmine detection systems, combat and supply vehicles.
Bird Strike Defense Robot