Scarecrows and other visually intimidating props placed on the ground can be useful in deterring birds within a certain radius, but one company is looking further afield by battling the pests in the sky. Designed to resemble a real-life bird of prey, the ProHawk UAV can be programmed to autonomously fly over a property and emit menacing predatory cries as it goes.
Pest control company Bird-X has been in the bird control game for more than 50 years, and the newly released ProHawk UAV is not the first time it has turned to the skies for its novel approach. In 2011 it launched BirdXPeller, a remote controlled aircraft that blasts bird-repelling sounds during flight to scare pests away from golf courses, crops and vineyards. But the latest addition to its fleet is the first time it has enlisted an autonomous quad-copter for the cause.
Fitted with GPS, the ProHawk UAV can be programmed to follow a specific flight path along way-points and features a built-in sonic sound unit. This device stores a range of predator calls, prey bird distress cries and Canada goose cries, which are emitted en route to clear the area of unwanted pests.
With a body crafted from carbon fiber, Bird-X says the the drone has been designed in part to mimic the appearance of a real-life predator bird, further adding to its ability to leave terrified smaller birds running for cover.
The drone can be controlled with a handheld remote control if the user so wishes, but its potential to cut man hours by way of automated flight plans seems to be where its value lies. While the drone is capable of launching, patrolling and landing on its own, users will still need to plug it in to charge it up. It does seem like the perfect candidate for a landing pad that doubles as a wireless charging station like the one launched by SkySense in 2014 – such an accessory could make the entire process autonomous.
The ProHawk UAV can be ordered now as an ongoing maintenance contract from Bird-X, with contacts details available via the source link.
Source: Gizmag