Wildlife strikes pose a significant risk to aviation safety, leading to costly damages and operational disruptions. In collaboration with Swedavia, Flox Robotics conducted a two-year validation study (2022–2024) to assess the effectiveness of AI-driven autonomous drones for wildlife deterrence and management at airports. The project, supported by Vinnova, aimed to develop a scalable, data-driven solution to reduce the presence of hazardous wildlife in critical airspace.

Methodology

The project was conducted at Kiruna, Malmö, and Umeå airports, where Flox’s autonomous drone system was deployed to:

• Detect and identify wildlife using real-time AI-powered vision models.
• Deter hazardous species using adaptive bio-acoustic deterrence.
• Monitor behavioral changes over time to measure system efficiency.
• Integrate operational workflows within existing airport safety protocols.

The effectiveness of the system was evaluated by comparing wildlife presence before and after deployment, analyzing response times, species-specific deterrence rates, and long-term behavioral adaptation.

Results & Findings

• High Deterrence Efficiency: The system successfully reduced wildlife presence in critical zones, minimizing risks of bird strikes.
• AI Model Optimization: Enhanced species recognition and adaptive deterrence based on real-time behavioral data.
• Operational Cost Savings: Automated deterrence reduced the need for manual interventions, optimizing resource allocation.
• Regulatory & Safety Integration: Established operational guidelines for integrating autonomous drone systems within airport safety frameworks.

A key demonstration at Bromma Airport showcased the system’s capabilities to industry stakeholders, further validating its applicability in large-scale aviation environments.