Preventing avian-aviation collisions

After eight to ten years of intensive research, DRDO scientists here have designed a micro air vehicle (MAV), that would resemble the winged vertebrates, which would frighten birds and free the skies over air ports and airforce bases after they are launched midair. It will, however, take a few more years before the MAVs take off since the DRDO is looking for funding.

Developed as an offshoot of the National Programme for MAVs (NP-MICAV), the project envisages an intelligent, unmanned MAV which holds the promise of greatly benefiting aviation firms who, over the years, have suffered loss worth crores because of bird hits which pose a persistent hazard for planes. Increasing urbanisation around airfields is one of the prime reasons why birds get attracted to such sites and, in the process, cause accidents that have sometimes proved to be costly — financially and fatally. In 2009 alone, the aviation companies suffered a loss of Rs 7 crore incurred because of damage caused to aircraft by 241 bird hits (up to October).

Claiming that scientists were in the process of developing a programme that would help the unmanned vehicle achieve its goal, NP-MICAV CEO K Ramachandra told Deccan Herald that an “intelligent MAV with stored data on the general behaviour of birds will perform three roles — flash high-frequency stroboscopic lights, emit loud, recorded bird distress signals and release smoke or gas”. These would be sufficient to clear the skies over airports of bothersome birds.

An MAV will come equipped with a data-processing system which will help it perform the vital function of differentiating between planes and birds. Pointing out that the airborne vehicle will also have a camera, Ramachandra said the “processing algorithm (a step-by-step problem-solving procedure) will be installed to assist the MAV count the number of birds, their distance from the gadget and even control operations so that midair collisions between vehicles are prevented.”

Developing an all-weather capability vehicle and programming it in a way that prevented MAV-MAV collision was a challenge when the project was in its fledgling stage.
Ramachandra said that once the project actually takes off, each airport in the country would be able to operate at least 10-12 MAVs.

After testing a prototype recently at Hoskote near Bangalore, Ramachandra said he was confident of achieving the objectives. But scientists working on the project are continually trying to make the technology flawless. “We are in the process of preparing a proposal to seek funds and also identify probable funding sources,” Ramachandra said, adding that the Civil Aviation Ministry, the DRDO and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research could all be possible funders for the project.

About the viability of the project, retired Lt Gen V J Sundaram, considered to be one of the pioneers of MAVs in the country, said: “When MAVs were conceptualised, people thought it is important to manufacture them in India. And now they are here for the future. Similarly, there could be doubts on the technology behind such a complex project, but I believe they are viable propositions.”