In a bid to mitigate wildlife hazards at Alaska's second-largest airport, an innovative approach has been introduced by the Alaskan government agency: a robot dog designed to resemble a coyote or fox. This aims to deter wild animals from the Fairbanks airport premises.
A technician (Rear) drives "Spot," a quadruped robot developed by Boston Dynamics, on June 9, 2022, as it is displayed inspecting a tunnel during a presentation to the media at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, near Naples, southern Italy. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
Unveiling "Aurora," the Newest Addition to Airport Safety
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities unveiled this initiative through a social media video showcasing the robot dog, affectionately named "Aurora," as the newest member of their team.
Equipped with detachable panels that enable it to morph into the appearance of either a coyote or a fox, Aurora is tasked with enhancing safety and operational efficiency at the airport.
In the footage, an enormous headless robot, roughly the size of a dog, showcases its capabilities by scaling stairs, navigating rocky terrain, and displaying playful movements adorned with flashing green lights.
Funded by a $2 million federal grant secured by the state highway department and US Department of Agriculture wildlife biologists, the robot, produced by Boston Dynamics, comes with a price tag of approximately $70,000.
Alarming Encounters
According to data from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database, there were 92 reported incidents of animal strikes near airports in Alaska last year, with 10 of these incidents recorded in Fairbanks.
While the majority of these encounters did not result in damage to aircraft, experts warn that in rare cases where birds are ingested into engines, the consequences can be severe and costly.
One tragic example occurred at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage in 1995 when an AWACS jet collided with a flock of geese, resulting in the deaths of twenty-four individuals.
Following the rejection of a proposal to use flying drones equipped with grape juice-based repellent, authorities turned to the idea of deploying a robot for wildlife deterrence.
This initiative comes after previous unconventional attempts, such as the release of pigs near Anchorage airport in the 1990s, aimed at reducing waterfowl populations near flight paths.
Ryan Marlow, a program manager at the Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT), highlighted the increasing utilization of remote technology across various state agencies in Alaska.
This technology aids in monitoring road conditions, assessing avalanche risks, evaluating earthquake damage, and facilitating search and rescue missions. Moreover, it enables agencies to respond promptly to natural disasters.
Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS), clarified that the department has no plans to deploy robots for surveillance or other general public safety purposes in the state, as per reports from ADN.
McDaniel emphasized that the DPS currently employs small drones and robots solely for specific tasks such as bomb disposal and search and rescue operations, with no intention of utilizing autonomous robots for any other purposes.
The airport's new robot dog aims to scare away birds and wildlife to keep them from getting too close to planes. It looks like a fox or a coyote and patrols the area every hour, especially during bird migration season.
The robot is controlled by a human and doesn't use fancy AI but has cool technology to move around different landscapes. If it works well, they might use more robots at other airports to save money.
