Intelligent bird scarer control system
Global food production must increase by 70% by 2050 to meet population growth. Whilst demand increases, resources are decreasing; more food must therefore be produced from less land. My proposal is to create a more sustainable and sophisticated way of reducing the damage done to crops by birds, thereby increasing yields.
Existing electrically powered agricultural bird-scarers operate randomly which reduces the effectiveness of the deterrent and causes nuisance; current solutions are also labour intensive. My product is a system which will control these devices by reacting to the presence of birds, maximising their effectiveness and significantly reducing human input.
A network of wireless solar-powered sensors is deployed across a field. Sensors use microwave technology to detect birds moving onto the crop, a detection triggers the purple unit to activate the bird-scarer. By monitoring the frequency of detections the system can self adjust and prevent birds habituating to the scaring stimulus. The farmer is remotely informed through a GSM link.
Having grown up on a farm I have practical experience of finding engineering solutions to agricultural problems. I would now like to combine this with my academic knowledge and look to apply it to a range of industries.
