Methods and systems for directing birds away from equipment

{
  "publication_number": "US9474265B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Methods and systems for directing birds away from equipment",
  "abstract": "A system for directing a bird away from equipment includes an item of equipment and a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm the equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment. The system also includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and a pilot system configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for directing a bird away from equipment, comprising: a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm an item of equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment; an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising; a pilot system configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle; and a plurality of emitters configured to generate a gradient field to influence the bird, wherein the plurality of emitters cooperatively generate a first intensity field in an area that the bird is being directed away from and a second intensity field having a lower intensity than the first intensity field where the bird is being directed toward.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises an on-board detector.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises an off-board detector.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles cooperate to produce behavior that induces a particular flight path for the bird.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pilot system comprises robotic controls configured to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pilot system is configured to allow the unmanned aerial vehicle to be remotely operated.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor to document the encounter of the bird and the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitor is on-board the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "10. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitor is off-board the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "11. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitor is configured to record the encounter of the bird and the unmanned aerial vehicle.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the unmanned aerial vehicle is selected to influence the bird.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein the method of flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle is selected to influence the bird.",
    "14. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to project a substance toward the bird.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, wherein the substance is an odorant.",
    "16. The system of claim 14, wherein the substance is an aerosol.",
    "17. The system of claim 14, wherein the substance is paint.",
    "18. The system of claim 14, wherein the substance is water.",
    "19. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises lights.",
    "20. The system of claim 19, wherein the lights are configured to flash.",
    "21. The system of claim 1, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle further comprises a speaker.",
    "22. The system of claim 21, wherein the speaker is configured to emit audible sounds.",
    "23. The system of claim 21, wherein the speaker is configured to emit audio-modulated ultrasonic sound configured to frequency down-convert in the atmosphere to produce a specified audible sound.",
    "24. The system of claim 1, wherein the gradient field is configured to repel the bird.",
    "25. The system of claim 1, wherein the gradient field is configured to attract the bird.",
    "26. A system for directing a bird away from equipment, comprising: a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm an item of equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment; a first unmanned aerial vehicle comprising; a second unmanned aerial vehicle comprising; a pilot system configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicles; and a plurality of emitters configured to generate a gradient field to influence the bird, wherein the plurality of emitters cooperatively generate a first intensity field in an area that the bird is being directed away from and a second intensity field having a lower intensity than the first intensity field where the bird is being directed toward; wherein the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles cooperate to produce behavior that induces a particular flight path for the bird.",
    "27. The system of claim 26: wherein at least one of the first and the second the unmanned aerial vehicles is configured to project a substance toward the bird and wherein the substance is at least one of an odorant, an aerosol, a paint, and water.",
    "28. A system for directing a bird away from equipment, comprising: a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm an item of equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment; an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a speaker; a pilot system configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle; and an emitter configured to generate a gradient field to influence the bird, wherein the gradient field includes a first intensity field in an area that the bird is being directed away from and a second intensity field where the bird is being directed toward; wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to project a substance toward the bird and wherein the substance is at least one of an odorant, an aerosol, a paint, and water.",
    "29. A system for directing a bird away from equipment, comprising: a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm an item of equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment; a first unmanned aerial vehicle lights, wherein the lights are configured to flash; a second unmanned aerial vehicle; a pilot system configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicles; and a plurality of emitters configured to generate a gradient field to influence the bird, wherein the plurality of emitters cooperatively generate a first intensity field in an area that the bird is being directed away from and a second intensity field having a lower intensity than the first intensity field where the bird is being directed toward; wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to project a substance toward the bird and wherein the substance is at least one of an odorant, an aerosol, a paint, and water; and wherein the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles cooperate to produce behavior that induces a particular flight path for the bird."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Birds have been known to fly into wind turbines, often resulting in the bird being injured or killed. To repel birds, certain techniques, such as noise cannons are used, but these methods can quickly become ineffective when the birds adapt to the steady stimulus.\n\nOne exemplary embodiment relates to a system for directing a bird away from equipment that includes an item of equipment and a detector configured to detect a bird that could be harmed by or that could harm the equipment and to determine the proximity of the bird to the equipment. The system also includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and a pilot system that is configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle.\n\nAnother exemplary embodiment relates to a method for directing a bird by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle to direct the flight of the bird.\n\nAnother embodiment relates to a system for directing a bird that includes a gradient field that is configured to influence the flight path of the bird and an emitter configured to generate the gradient field.\n\nAnother exemplary embodiment relates to a method for directing a bird by generating a gradient field with an emitter and deploying the gradient field to influence the flight path of the bird.\n\nThe foregoing is a summary and thus by necessity contains simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail. Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.",
  "cpc": [
    "G05D 1/101",
    "A01M 29/10",
    "A01M 29/12",
    "A01M 29/16",
    "A01M 29/18",
    "A01M 31/002",
    "B64U 2101/00",
    "B64U 2101/30",
    "B64U 2201/10",
    "B64U 2201/20",
    "F03D 80/10",
    "G05D 1/0011",
    "G08G 5/55",
    "G08G 5/57"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01M 29/00",
    "A01M 29/10",
    "A01M 29/12",
    "A01M 29/16",
    "A01M 31/00",
    "B64B 1/06",
    "G01C 23/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Elwha LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William D. Duncan",
    "Roderick A. Hyde",
    "Muriel Y. Ishikawa",
    "Jordin T. Kare",
    "Thomas A. Weaver",
    "Lowell L. Wood, JR."
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-11-27",
  "publication_date": "2016-10-25",
  "grant_date": "2016-10-25",
  "priority_date": "2012-11-27",
  "application_number": "US-201213686707-A",
  "family_id": "50773956",
  "cited_by_count": 23,
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}