A group from the University of the Fraser Valley is working on a unique and quiet solution to scare the birds off with programmable drones. Researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley believe drones may finally silence the cannons that boom throughout the summer on blueberry farms. Professor Tom Baumann and his team are reprogramming helicopter-like UAVs — properly known as unmanned aerial vehicles — to fly preset patterns over ripening blueberries in the hope they will scare way the birds that feast on farmers’ fruit and kill their profits.
In a demonstration flight last week, UFV instructor Myles Andrew piloted a four-prop drone quietly over Abbotsford berry fields, though gusting winds made landings difficult.
The goal is to create an affordable drone that flies in a pattern across the fields using GPS positioning and then returns to a charging base until the next flight, all without direct control or supervision from human beings, Baumann said.
Growers have tried all kinds of noisemakers, reflectors, lasers, lights, bangers, flags and balloons painted with scary faces to keep birds at bay. A handful of growers use live falcons to patrol their fields, but the added cost of paying handlers means only the largest farms can afford them.
The most cost-effective technology is unpopular with neighbours. Propane cannons fire a loud blast every few minutes throughout the day to frighten birds during harvest season, which can run more than three months. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/
