The Alaska transportation department's robotic dog has a different purpose: Aurora's main job at the airport will be to discourage birds and other wildlife from settling near plane infields by imitating predator-like movements, according to Marlow, who said the robot is currently being tested for that use.

The robot, which is a product of Lower 48 company Boston Dynamics, cost about $70,000 and was funded by a $2 million federal grant, received by the state transportation department and wildlife biologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Beginning this fall — at the start of migratory bird season — the plan is for the robot dog to patrol an outdoor area near the runway every hour to try to help prevent harmful encounters between planes and wildlife, particularly waterfowl, according to Marlow.

The robot had replaceable panels that would allow Aurora to eventually be disguised as a coyote or fox, he 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," Marlow said during a joint session of the Alaska House and Senate transportation committees last week.

Marlow said in an interview that the agency is treating Aurora's time in Fairbanks as a trial to see how effective the robot is as a nonlethal wildlife mitigation tool, particularly for migratory birds. They also want to test to see how larger animals like moose and bears respond to the robot, he said.

Current wildlife mitigation efforts at airports around the state involve wildlife service teams who startle away birds and other wildlife using loud sounds from poppers and paintball guns. They also keep grass short or dry out ponds to make areas unappealing to animals.

The teams are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, which partner with airports to provide the critical service of preventing plane-wildlife encounters.

Past efforts have been more outlandish: In the 1990s, airport officials released pigs near Anchorage's Lake Hood, which they hoped would gobble up waterfowl eggs near plane landing areas.

Wildlife poses a significant threat to aviation safety, Marlow said.

...continued

(c)2024 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska). Visit the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska) at www.adn.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.