RC ornithopter saves lives

Model Airplane News, Aug 2002 by Lagor, Jaime

The concept of a mechanical raptor capable of bird-like flight is certainly not a new one; Leonardo da Vinci envisioned such a machine 500 years ago. It just may be an idea, however, whose time has finally come. Modem technology has enabled the development of extremely realistic, radiocontrol ornithopters, the applications of which extend far beyond the confines of the hobby industry. These high-tech marvels are actually saving lives.

For more than 20 years, Intercept Technologies Inc. of Ontario, Canada, has been developing wildlife hazard management plans for airports, golf courses, landfills and other facilities that are susceptible to large bird populations. The Robofalcon, a radiocontrolled mechanical raptor, is the latest weapon being used in the fight to control wildlife populations and the hazards associated with their inhabitance of particular areas.

The Robofalcon is incredibly accurate in appearance and in flight capabilities. It not only features flapping wings, but thanks to a special mechanism adapted from RC boats, its wings can also be locked, thereby enabling it to soar, swoop and dive. It can fly even faster than a real falcon and has proven to be more effective than the real thing in driving off birds. Most important, the Robofalcon can go as high and as far as the operator desires. Robofalcons range in wingspans from 3 to 9 feet and are produced in several species, including a peregrine falcon and a golden eagle. They also come in both nitro and electric versions and can stay aloft for up to 20 minutes, depending on their size.

By combining the medieval art of falconry, their extensive knowledge of animal behavior and 21st-century flight technology, Wilfred Emonts, president of Intercept Technologies, and his team have created a practical and innovative solution to wildlife control while balancing the intricate needs of the environment. And though the problems associated with massive bird populations at golf courses equate to little more than a public nuisance, they are a matter of life and death at many of the world's airports.

Since 1912, aircraft collisions with birds and other wildlife have killed more than 400 people and destroyed 420 aircraft around the world. Just seven years ago in Alaska, 24 people died when an Air Force surveillance jet crashed after geese flew into its engines.

Though wildlife-related aviation fatalities are not the norm, there is still a price to be paid every time a bird and an aircraft collide; try an average of $500 million in damages every year. Because collisions commonly occur during takeoffs and landings, airport managers are continuously searching for new and more effective methods of clearing their property of the geese, gulls, hawks, vultures and owls that find the fenced-in grasslands and ponds such attractive breeding and feeding grounds. Lately, many airport managers are turning to Intercept Technologies and its Robofalcon for answers.

The Robofalcon's abilities to realistically simulate a bird's flight technique, to stay aloft for long periods of time and to travel great distances make it an ideal wildlife-control tool; in fact, this mechanical predator just may be the most effective method ever developed.

Robofalcons are strictly marketed to facilities whose operations would benefit from wildlife control, and they are available only as part of a complete management plan developed by Intercept Technologies, but they are also wonderful examples of how RC technology continues to positively impact so many segments of our society.