US Navy developing autonomous drone to prevent bird eggs from hatching near airfields
Tests of quadcopter to finish in June 2022, at which point it may become commercially available to airports and others
The US Navy is developing an autonomous drone that is designed to prevent bird eggs from hatching near airfields.
The Pentagon spends around $50m a year managing bird life around airfields as aircraft being struck by birds pose a security risk.
The process used is called oiling, and involves covering eggs with food-grade oil which blocks the pores in the eggshells and prevents the embryos inside from receiving oxygen.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies