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]

[msisaacs Posted 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

[(Unverified) Posted 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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2008 7:29AM]

test，hoho

[(Unverified) Posted 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...

[Setesh Posted Mar 6th 2008 7:55AM]

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

[erh Posted Mar 6th 2008 7:48AM]

I wonder if the Uncanny Valley applies to birds?

[Teka Posted Mar 6th 2008 8:25AM]

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

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

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

[daaper Posted 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"

[SpaceLemur Posted 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.

[Rebel6381 Posted Mar 6th 2008 10:47AM]

Anybody find a good video of this?

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

GBRS? When will we get the 3G version?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2008 12:17PM]

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

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

Is that Ryan Block in the photograph?

[CDF12345 Posted Mar 6th 2008 6:29PM]

hmm, I'm suing for trademark infringement.


Chris Falco

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2008 7:16AM]

Gregarious Bird Removal System

[BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam Posted Mar 8th 2008 12:36PM]

FALCO: Need a little help, Fox?