We have seen Spot in a lot of videos and tasks. The robot dog from Boston Dynamics is amazing and stands out for how autonomous and intelligent it is, considering that it is a robot, of course. And the best part: it is very useful.
Spot has already been used by Ford to scan the changing layout of one of its facilities, and also to carry out various tasks on an oil and gas production vessel in Norway.
However, the latest deployment has less to do with improving workplace efficiency and more to do with scaring the local wildlife, which can be very useful in certain cases.
A robot dog that will act as a fox to scare away birds
The officials of Fairbanks International Airport (Alaska) hope that the vision of the robot, which they have named Aurora, will be enough to scare away birds and other creatures that get too close to the airport grounds, especially the runway.
Bird strikes against airplane engines are a serious safety problem for airport operators. Existing deterrent methods include loud noises such as alarms and sirens, while efforts are also made to make the surrounding environment less hospitable for wildlife.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities recently shared a short video on Instagram showcasing their new hire, who they said will “enhance and improve airport safety and operations.”
Aurora will be deployed in autumn, when the migratory bird season begins, reported the Anchorage Daily News, although authorities are also eager to see how animals such as moose and bears react to the robot. To make Aurora more effective, it will be dressed up to resemble a coyote or a fox.
