Swedish AI drones to reduce wildlife strikes in the United States

In this research and innovation project supported by Future Mobility, Flox in partnership with HMB Airport, situated at the heart of Silicon Valley, and operated by the County of San Mateo - Airports Division, is deploying supervised autonomous drones equipped with software that blends AI and wildlife science to efficiently deter wildlife from airport areas without harming them. These dock-based drones, managed through Flox wildlife management platform by airport safety teams, are designed to enhance daily wildlife management operations from inspections to runway clearance ahead of aircraft takeoffs and landings. Building on successful trials at Swedish airports in Malmö, Kiruna, and Umeå, Flox is now expanding its reach to the United States to expand the Swedish proprietary tech. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have recently begun exploring the use of drone technology into wildlife management protocols at airports in the United States. This project led by Flox presents an opportunity to further validate the system in the challenging environment of an airport located in the United States, pushing both technological and regulatory boundaries.  

Driving Technical and Regulatory Innovation in Drone Use 

A key aspect of the project is its focus on both technical and regulatory innovation. Flox is taking help from authorities both in Sweden and the United States within the project in order to understand the current regulatory landscape and start developing new frameworks for integrating drones into airport wildlife management plans. The project also seeks to influence the development of global standards for the use of drones in aviation, setting a precedent for future innovations in drone technology and regulatory practices. 
 

Cross-Border Collaboration and Legal Innovation 

This initiative highlights the importance of international collaboration in driving industry advancements. By comparing United States and Swedish regulatory frameworks, the project aims to create a legal blueprint for the integration of drones into wildlife hazard management plans in both countries. This cross-border exchange of knowledge and practices not only benefits the United States and Swedish aviation industries but also contributes to the global conversation around drone technology in airports. 

This collaboration is supported by Future Mobility, an initiative fostering innovation collaborations between Sweden and the United States within sustainable mobility. Future Mobility offers matchmaking, guidance towards potential funding sources and knowledge regarding how to carry out international innovation collaborations. Flox Robotics and its partners in the United States have been selected as a strategic project, which means that they are co-funded by Vinnova through Future Mobility. 

Focused on Wildlife Management 

While the primary focus of the project is wildlife-strike prevention, the project aims to demonstrate how drones can be effectively integrated into airport operations. Through this work, the project is helping to modernize airport wildlife management, providing a smarter, more efficient alternative to traditional methods. 

The success of this project will set the stage for future collaborations between Sweden and the United States, reinforcing the role of drones as a vital tool in modernizing airport operations and enhancing aviation safety worldwide. 

Partners 

The project is led by Flox, in collaboration with County of San Mateo - Airports Division where the demonstration will take place later this spring and funded by Future Mobility. The project partners gather advice from leading authorities as USDA, FAA and Luftfartsverket as a part of the project and understand the legal landscape for this technology use case. The project builds on Flox collaboration with Swedavia and will run from October 2024 to February 2025, with key milestones including system installation, testing, and data collection, followed by final demonstrations and paving the way for broader implementation at airports in the United States later this year.