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A Caltech professor has created an algorithm for drones to herd birds away from airports

Schematic shows distance of drone from birds.
Schematic shows distance of drone from birds.
(
Courtesy of Caltech
)

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In just the last four years, birds have hit aircraft at LAX more than 500 times. One bird caused $1.5 million dollars in damage when it hit a 747 two years ago.
 
For now, LAX deals birds the old fashioned-way with traps and car horns, but scientists are working on a more high-tech solution.

Caltech professor Soon-Jo Chung has written an algorithm that directs a drone to herd birds away from airports.

Read more on LAist.com: A Caltech Scientist Is Training Drones To Herd Birds Away From Airplanes. 

This story is part of Elemental: Covering Sustainability, a new multimedia collaboration between Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KJZZ, KPCC, Rocky Mountain PBS and PBS SoCal.

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