https://news.sky.com/story/headless-dog-sized-robot-to-patrol-alaska-airport-to-prevent-bird-strikes-13104283 Skip to content Sky News - back to home sky news logo sky news logo Watch Live * Home * UK * World * Israel-Hamas War * Politics * US * Climate * Science & Tech * Business * Ents & Arts * Travel * Offbeat * Analysis * Data & Forensics * Videos * Programmes * Weather More * Home * UK * World * Israel-Hamas War * Politics * US * Climate * Science & Tech * Business * Ents & Arts * Travel * Offbeat * Analysis * Data & Forensics * Videos * Programmes * Weather Headless, dog-sized robot to patrol Alaska airport to prevent bird strikes The robot - named Aurora - can climb rocks, go up stairs and make dance-like movements while flashing green lights. These tactics will be used to scare away wildlife. Friday 29 March 2024 23:09, UK Alaska Department of Transportation program manager Ryan Marlow demonstrates the agency's robotic dog in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 26, 2024. The device will be camouflaged as a coyote or fox to ward off migratory birds and other wildlife at Alaska's second largest airport, the DOT said. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Image: Pic: Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP * * * * Why you can trust Sky News A headless robot about the size of a labrador will be camouflaged as a coyote to ward off migratory birds and other wildlife at Alaska's second largest airport. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said it will be based at the Fairbanks airport to "enhance and augment safety and operations". Images have been released showing the robot - named Aurora - climbing rocks, going up stairs and doing something akin to dancing while flashing green lights. Those dancing skills will be put to use during the migratory bird season when Aurora will imitate predator-like movements to keep birds and other wildlife from settling near plane infields. An Alaska Department of Transportation robotic dog walks through snow in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 26, 2024. The device will be camouflaged as a coyote or fox to ward off migratory birds and other wildlife at Alaska's second largest airport, the DOT said. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Image: Pic: Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP Ryan Marlow, a programme manager with the transportation department, said: "The sole purpose of this is to act as a predator and allow for us to invoke that response in wildlife without having to use other means." The plan is to have Aurora patrol an outdoor area near the runway every hour in an attempt to prevent harmful encounters between planes and wildlife. It can be disguised as a coyote or a fox by changing out replaceable panels. More on Alaska * FILE - A Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplane performs a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, east of Paris, France, June 20, 2017. Indonesia has temporarily grounded three Boeing 737-9 Max jetliners, following an incident in which an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File) Alaska Airlines flight 1282: Plane whose door panel blew off mid-air 'was due to be serviced that day' * Dogs in Riley Dyche's team mush along Cordova Street during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/ Anchorage Daily News via AP) Alaska: Two dogs die during 1,000-mile Iditarod - prompting fresh calls for 'despicable race' to be banned * Seldovia slough at low tide with Riverside properties, Seldovia, Alaska, USA. Pic: iStock Alaskapox: Elderly man is first person to die from virus, officials confirm Related Topics: * Alaska * Robots The idea of using a robot came after officials rejected a plan to use flying drones spraying a repellent including grape juice. Follow Sky News on WhatsApp Follow Sky News on WhatsApp Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News Tap here Previous deterrent efforts have included officials releasing pigs at a lake near the Anchorage airport in the 1990s, with the hope they would eat waterfowl eggs near plane landing areas. Advertisement The test period in Fairbanks will also see how effective of a deterrent Aurora would be with larger animals and to see how moose and bears would respond to the robot. Last year, there were 92 animal strikes near airports across Alaska, including 10 in Fairbanks, according to an Federal Aviation Administration database. Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free [ui-app-pro] [ui-app-pro] [apple-touc] Most strikes resulted in no damage to the aircraft, but Mr Marlow said the encounters can be expensive and dangerous in the rare instance when a bird is sucked into an engine, potentially causing a crash. An AWACS jet crashed in 1995 when it hit a flock of geese, killing 24 people at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. Related Topics * Alaska * Robots Sky News Footer * Facebook * X * YouTube * Instagram About Sky News * About Us * Sky News Profiles * Sky News International * Sky News Library Sales * Site Map * Editorial Guidelines * Sky News Board Sky News Services * Sky News RSS * Sky News For Your Phone * Sky News Radio Sky Channels * Sky Witness * Sky Atlantic * Sky Arts * Sky Cinema * Sky Sports More Sky Sites * NOW * Sky Zero * Sky Academy Studios * Bigger Picture * Sky Group * Sky Bet * Sky.com * Sky News Arabia * Advertise With Us * Terms & Conditions * Privacy & Cookies * Privacy Options * Accessibility * Contact Us Sky.com Homepage (c) 2024 Sky UK