Robotic Falco bird frightens away its own kind

Believe it or not, this isn't the first time we've seen robotic falcons used to chase off actual birds, but rather than keeping pigeons at bay, the Falco Robot GBRS is reportedly able to keep pestering birds clear from airports and the like. Humorously hailed as a "Gregarious Bird Removal System," the creature is reportedly a result of ten years of experimentation, and word on the street proclaims that the remote-controlled device was able to scare off a thousand seagulls at a Genoa airport. Mum and dad would be so ashamed.

[Via CNET]

[Matt @ Mar 6th 2008 7:05AM]

I would love to have a Falco Robot! Is he programmed with BASIC?

10 PRINT "Rock me, Amadeus!"
20 GOTO 10

[ken @ Mar 6th 2008 7:29AM]

test，hoho

[dajimmers @ Mar 6th 2008 7:47AM]

Seems like I'd prefer to have the squishy, non-explosive birds pulled into my plane's engines than this thing...

[Seth @ Mar 6th 2008 7:55AM]

You hit a "squishy" bird at anything above 120mph and it doesn't matter if it explodes or not...

[Evan @ Mar 6th 2008 7:48AM]

I wonder if the Uncanny Valley applies to birds?

[Somatic @ Mar 6th 2008 8:25AM]

Professor Falken was doing this in 1983! C'mon, let's get with the program!

[decypher44 @ Mar 6th 2008 10:46AM]

Somatic, that's the first thing I thought of.

[Andrea @ Mar 6th 2008 8:35AM]

I am from Genoa, and this made the news a few weeks ago. I have never actually seen the robofalcon, but I can confirm that, as the airport is right on the sea (it's an artificial peninsula), seagulls have been a dangerous nuisance to air traffic for a long time, and it seems that problems have now been solved.

[daaper @ Mar 6th 2008 8:42AM]

In 1992, Ken Mortimer was an advertising executive in Baltimore, Maryland. Then, for reasons known only to him, he left his wife and career, and moved deep into the forest. Now, he is known only as... "The Falconer"

[Cory @ Mar 6th 2008 8:53AM]

Well I suppose this is easier than the real trained falcons that a lot of airports have used to scare off other birds.

[Timothy @ Mar 6th 2008 10:47AM]

Anybody find a good video of this?

[Ricardo @ Mar 6th 2008 10:48AM]

GBRS? When will we get the 3G version?

[slyd3z @ Mar 6th 2008 12:17PM]

Falco? What does Keanu Reeves have to do with bird bots?

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Mar 6th 2008 1:06PM]

Is that Ryan Block in the photograph?

[Chris Falco @ Mar 6th 2008 6:29PM]

hmm, I'm suing for trademark infringement.


Chris Falco

[Patricia Adams @ Mar 7th 2008 7:16AM]

Gregarious Bird Removal System

[The BPM Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine @ Mar 8th 2008 12:36PM]

FALCO: Need a little help, Fox?