At a distance, the four-wheeled machine trundling across a military airfield might pass for a large remote-controlled car topped with a menacing plastic coyote. However, to a flock of birds in the path of a roaring jet engine, it’s the embodiment of primal fear.
Meet the robotic coyote—a new autonomous deterrent system being developed by the U.S. Army to keep airfields safe from wildlife that can endanger flight operations.
In a novel blend of animal mimicry and robotics, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is testing robotic coyotes to protect some of the military’s most valuable assets—fighter jets and their crews.
By using lifelike predator decoys mounted on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), researchers aim to prevent potentially catastrophic collisions between birds and military aircraft.
“It all comes down to scare tactics,” the ERDC said in a post on LinkedIn. “The system, which includes a large, plastic coyote mounted to a UGV base, is aimed at helping biologists and managers at military airfields deter wildlife, particularly problematic birds, from posing a risk to flight crews, aircraft, and operations.”
Bird-aircraft strikes, also known as BASH (Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard), have long plagued military and civilian aviation, resulting in damaged equipment, costly repairs, and, in some cases, the loss of life.
Traditional scare tactics—such as noise cannons or static decoys—tend to lose effectiveness over time as animals become habituated. The Army’s new robotic approach is designed to change the game by bringing mobility, unpredictability, and machine learning to the fight.
To test the effectiveness of these robotic coyotes, the Army has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). Together, the agencies have conducted trials at multiple sites, including Naval Air Stations Whiting Field and Pensacola in Florida, as well as Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
While the idea of robotic coyotes might sound quirky, the technology behind it is serious. ERDC says researchers have been working over the past year to integrate AI and onboard computing that enables UGVs to detect and respond to wildlife movements, learn patterns over time, and autonomously patrol runways and flight lines.
Currently, most airfields rely on human personnel to patrol and deter birds and other wildlife—a labor-intensive process that often provides only limited and inconsistent coverage.
To bolster these efforts, some U.S. military installations have enlisted base falconers as part of their BASH programs. These specialists train and handle birds of prey, primarily falcons, to deter other birds and small animals from airfields, reducing the risk of bird strikes.
However, a NASA review titled A Review of Falconry as a Bird Control Technique raised significant doubts about the long-term viability of this approach. The report found that many falconry programs employed at military and commercial airfields were ultimately discontinued, mainly because they failed to demonstrate cost-effectiveness compared to other methods, such as pyrotechnics or habitat modification.
In light of these limitations, ERDC hopes its robot coyotes can offer a more sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable solution to airfield wildlife hazards. If successful, these robotic deterrents could provide around-the-clock coverage with minimal human intervention, offering a reliable long-term strategy for reducing bird strike risks across a range of military and potentially even civilian airfields.
Additionally, these robot coyotes can be deployed day or night, autonomously navigating across airfields while providing a constant visual deterrent that adapts to their surroundings. Their mobility prevents wildlife from becoming too familiar with their presence, a problem that quickly renders static deterrents ineffective.
While the robotic coyotes aren’t equipped with any weapons, their lifelike appearance and movement are often enough to send birds and other small animals fleeing. To prey species, the silhouette of a coyote signals a genuine predatory threat—triggering deep, hardwired survival instincts. By harnessing this primal fear, the Army aims to develop a low-risk, effective, and repeatable solution for keeping flight paths clear of wildlife.
“Since the project’s launch,” the ERDC explained, “we’ve continued to pursue opportunities to integrate technologies, including onboard computing to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning, cameras and other sensors for navigation and surveillance, and a more robust system capable of maneuvering through harsh terrain and environmental conditions.”
The Army is not alone in this effort. As the military seeks to modernize its infrastructure and operations, technologies that bridge the gap between nature and machines are increasingly in demand. From bio-inspired drones to robotic dogs that patrol bases, the defense world is embracing innovations that emulate the animal kingdom to solve human problems.
The robotic coyote program, which is still in its experimental phase, has shown promising results. With successful field demonstrations and growing interest from other branches of the military, a broader rollout of this innovative solution may not be far off. For now, the coyotes will continue to prowl airfields under the watchful eye of scientists and engineers, hopefully scaring off birds or other natural threats to aircraft and crews.
If successful, these lifelike machines may become a permanent part of the military’s wildlife deterrent strategy, proof that sometimes the best way to protect high-tech aircraft is with a bit of help from a four-legged robotic trickster.
Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter: @LtTimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email: tim@thedebrief.org or through encrypted email: LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com