United States Army deceives Intruders with ‘Robot Coyotes’ for Protecting Aircraft.

The US Army has found an unlikely ally in its fight to protect military aircraft. Its Engineer Research and Development Centre (ERDC) has developed “coyote rovers – four-wheeled motorised vehicles mounted with life-size coyote figures to help clear its airfields of any wildlife hazards”.

The rovers are considered unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and are capable of following designated paths while staying away from restricted areas such as runways.  They are supported by a charging and docking system, allowing these bots to operate autonomously for several days. The base platform comes from Texas firm Traxxas, with motorised cars that can reach speeds up to 32 kilometres (20 miles) per hour. It is fast enough to mimic real predator behaviour and keep curious wildlife at bay.

Early prototypes have already been demonstrated at several Naval Air Stations, with more testing expected this summer if funding is approved.

Viability of the Robot Coyotes –

Incidents of birds being accidentally flying into plane engines and other animals such as rabbits and deer’s breaking equipment have caused military bases around $251 million worth of damages from 2007 to 2016, according to reports from the US Air Force. Fighter jets and transport planes are especially vulnerable during take-off and landing, when a single bird strike can disable an engine or force an aborted mission.

To mitigate those risks, the navy has used trained hawks, while the air force relies on niche radars. The army still depends heavily on manual labour, which can be both costly and time-consuming.

At $3,000 per unit, the coyote rovers aim to offer a lightweight, affordable way to cut down wildlife-related incidents and keep critical aircraft safe and mission-ready. According to ERDC research biologist Shea Hammond, the team is also exploring future upgrades, such as incorporating autonomous navigation and AI-based systems to detect specific bird species.

Team Maverick