Strategies for mid-air collision avoidance in aircraft: lessons from bird flight

Abstract:: Mid-air collisions between aircraft are becoming increasingly likely due to the rapid proliferation of airspace complexity and the presence of unmanned aircraft in uncontrolled air spaces. Existing technologies for 'sense and avoid' collisions are bulky, expensive, and not 100% reliable. In this project, we will draw inspiration from Nature to seek improvements. Birds fly rapidly and safely through complex and cluttered environments and rarely collide with objects and other birds. We will study how birds use sensory information, make decisions, and perform manoeuvres, and draw inspiration from experiments on bird flight to develop and test novel strategies for the detection and avoidance of potential aircraft mid-air collisions.
Grant type:: ARC Linkage Projects
Funded by:: Australian Research Council

The University of Queensland