| | These two prototypes of the scarebots are each about 4 feet by 4 feet in area and about18 inches high. The LSU AgCenter engineers are also working on larger models to be used in lakes and reservoirs. (Photo by John Wozniak) |
| | | Figure 1. Diagram of boat location on a 0.6 hectare pond in 30-minute period. June 15, 2001. |
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It’s a scene that would captivate Alfred Hitchcock – large flocks of birds causing havoc in a community. But the community in this case is not a quaint coastal village but catfish and crawfish ponds across the South.
LSU AgCenter agricultural engineers Randy Price and Steven Hall are developing robotic boats that will keep these winged predators out of commercial ponds.
The engineers are also working on a larger model approximately 8 feet by 8 feet. This model’s target use is on larger lakes and reservoirs.
Most of the boats run autonomously, but one model can be controlled using radio signals.
“Shore feelers” keep the boats from running aground. A global positioning system is being implemented as another method of steering. Remote sensors on several of the prototypes trigger water cannons to scare away birds. The range of these cannons is similar to a common lawn jet sprinkler.
“We’ve had these boats on a number of commercial ponds, which are larger, and add challenges that we need to address with further developments,” Hall said.
The biggest challenge has been the wind. Because commercial ponds are larger, wind resistance is greater. Hall and Price are working on a model that will work upwind and then float downwind to conserve power.
The boats could be outfitted to collect environmental data.
“Sensors on the boats could record temperature, dissolved oxygen or ammonia levels. This information could then alert a farmer of a potential problem on his pond,” Price said.
Price cannot estimate a scarebot’s cost at this time, but the aim is for the boats to be affordable. “It will take care of the farm pond without the farmer having to put human labor into it,” Price said.”
Craig Gautreaux
(This article was published in the winter 2003 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.) |