Engineers at the California Institute of Technology have developed an algorithm that uses a single drone to redirect a flock of birds away from an airport. Associate Professor and Jet Propulsion Laboratory Research Scientist, Soon-Jo Chung, created the algorithm with his colleagues in response to the “Miracle on the Hudson” incident. In 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to ditch in the Hudson River after flying into a flock of Canada Geese shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Caltech Engineers Develop Algorithm to Repel Birds Using Drones
Key Takeaways:
- Engineers at Caltech developed an algorithm enabling a single autonomous drone to safely redirect bird flocks away from airports, a solution inspired by the "Miracle on the Hudson" incident.
- The algorithm strategically positions the drone to influence birds at the flock's edge, initiating a chain reaction that subtly shifts the entire group without causing them to panic or scatter.
- Tests in Korea demonstrated that one drone could effectively control dozens of birds, with plans to expand the project to use multiple drones for controlling multiple flocks.
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