Green X to Demonstrate Robird Bird Strike Control at EC UAS Panel Workshop at Eurocontrol in September

The Green X Robird will be demonstrated during the upcoming European Commission UAS Panel Workshop at Eurocontrol in Brussels, Belgium on 13-14 September 2011. Robirds have been developed to closely resemble birds of prey and precisely imitate their flight profile, and thereby be an effective tool to decrease the risks of bird strike for aviation.

Neither, humans, animals, birds nor radar can tell the difference from real birds of prey. For this development, Green X was awarded the UVS International Innovation Award at the UAS 2011 Conference in Paris.

Bird strikes pose an increasing problem to air traffic as:

• due to environmental measures, the number of birds is rapidly increasing;
• birds adapt to urban settings and airports;
• modern aircraft get faster and quieter;
• modern aircraft generally have two engines, instead of four engines as in the past, and
• air traffic is increasing.

As a means of bird control, the Robird, a flapping wing UAS, is the only solution to remove birds lastingly in the desired direction, as it uses the natural response of birds to the presence of birds of prey.

Peregrine Falcon

When spotting a bird of prey, birds flock together and try to out climb the predator. When this happens, the Robird is flown around the flock, like a shepherd dog, to direct the birds out of harm’s way. This natural response of birds only happens when they spot a bird of prey flapping its wings. Birds know that when soaring, birds of prey do not hunt. When birds realise that an airport is the habitat of a bird of prey they will stay away for extended periods of time.

In conjunction with bird radar, Robirds can be used to prevent birds from coming to the airport and, to reroute migrating birds that might possibly cross the flight paths of aircraft on and outside the airport. Fitted with cameras Robirds can be used for inspection and surveillance, as it is very difficult to distinguish them from real birds by humans and radar alike.

For additional information visit www.greenx.nl and www.hellerdesign.nl

Source: Press Release