Bird collision with aircraft is a big problem. There are those who believe that a drone-falcon is the solution

The presence of birds in airports is a global problem that affects both the commercial aviation industry and animal life. According to a study of the International Bird Strike Committee (IBSC), each year more than 50,000 bird collisions with planes in the worlda number that is estimated to grow as the number of flights increases and technology allows planes to be quieter.

These types of incidents sometimes result in the death of the birds involved and can cause damage to aircraft windows, fuselage or engines. One of the most dramatic episodes, perhaps, is that of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009 in which a flock of geese collided with “Sully” Sullenberger’s Airbus A320 and ended up splashing down in the middle of the Hudson River after a total loss of the propulsion system.

Faced with this type of scenario, different proposals have been developed to control the problem of plane-to-plane collisions. From drones to trained falcons and devices that emit threatening sounds. However, researchers from the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, believe they have a much more effective and, above all, cheaper solution: a drone shaped like a peregrine falcon.

A drone-falcon to the rescue

Can you imagine a drone-falcon flying in the vicinity of an airport so that planes can take off and land more safely? If this project succeeds this could become a reality. We are talking about a peculiar drone made of fiberglass and expanded polypropylene (EPP) officially called RobotFalcon. It has a wingspan of 70 centimeters and even imitates the movements of the falcon.

It certainly does not fly with the movement of the wings, but has a flight dynamic similar to that of the peregrine falcon. Its propulsion system is made up of two propellers and works with batteries that provide up to 15 minutes of autonomy. According to the study published in The Royal Societythe RobotFalcon is more effective at deterring birds than the currently used drone system.

The researchers note that the proposal also has some limitations. It’s not as effective at deterring large birds like geese or herons, although they believe this could be fixed with a larger RobotFalcon. In addition, they explain, the drone must be controlled by a trained pilot for safety reasons.

A very important aspect is that, according to the study, birds I don’t know accustomed to RobotFalcon during the three months that the tests lasted. This was a question they had, since current methods tend to be less effective over time as birds get used to them. The researchers will continue working so that the drone-falcon can reach airports in the future.

Images: University of Groningen

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